Lianne Seymour's plight was brought up in Parliament

Newspapers have drawn attention to the vast discrepancy as US and UK troops fight alongside each other in Iraq.

The MoD assembles a complex package of benefits for the families of those killed in action.

Lance Corporal 5 years' service Married, two children Pensionable pay: �17,000 Lump sum: �26,748 Short term pension: �8,477 Long term pension: �6,927 pa Child's pension: �1,783 pa per child

A typical package for a 22-year-old lance corporal with five years' service who was married with two children on �17,000 pensionable salary would see a range of benefits.

His wife would receive a �26,748 lump sum, a short term family pension of �8,477, followed by a war widow's pension (�6,927 pa), child's pension (�1,783 per child pa) and additional war pension scheme allowances.

This does not compare favourably with US benefits, which would see the widow of a soldier killed in combat receive a minimum of �179,000, regardless of rank.

Major 13 years service Married, two children Pensionable pay: �40,000 Lump sum �65,907 Short term pension: �29,917 Long term pension: �17,753 pa Child's pension: �4,394 pa per child

Even an officer such as a married major with 13 years service, pensionable pay of �40,000 and two children would not receive a comparable sum.

But Dr Moonie said there were "difficulties measuring like-with-like", with US benefits organised on a different basis.

"As the inheritor of generations of benefits I do everything I can to try and improve them.

Warrant officer 20 years service Married, two children Pensionable pay: �32,000 Lump sum: �49,191 Short term pension: �15,956 Long term pension: �13,660 pa Child's pension: �3,279 pa per child

"They get benefits that have always been considered reasonably generous by our own standards."

But he said changes were always being looked at to benefits.

"These things grow up over time and we are always trying to improve them. It takes a very frustratingly long time."