COMPENSATION PAYMENTS FOR SERVICE PERSONNEL KILLED IN ACTION

Early day motion 675, tabled 20 January 2010 by John Austin (Labour). Signed by 64 members.

That this House is concerned that payments made by the Ministry of Defence to families in respect of a relative killed in action are counted as income by the Department for Work and Pensions in calculation of income support and other income-related benefits as well as housing and council tax benefits; notes that this results in families on benefit receiving no compensation and in some cases suffering financial loss; further notes that payments in respect of those who went into captivity in the Far East during the Second World War and in respect of those killed in the bombing and attempted bombing of the London transport system in July 2005 were disregarded for calculation of income-related benefits; and believes that the same disregard should be applied to payments to surviving relatives of personnel killed on active service with HM armed forces.

Signatures by party: Labour 31, Liberal Democrat 15, Conservative 8, DUP 5, Independent 2, Respect 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.