36. Miss Wardasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence to make a statement on officers' pensions, as a result of his examination of facts placed before him on the inadequate payments payable at present.
Miss WardA very unsatisfactory answer. Will my hon. Friend kindly convey to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that many Members on both sides of the House think that in respect of pensions both for retired officers and for widows he is very unjust? Will my hon. Friend please see that the Chancellor is fully informed that some action should be taken before stronger representations are made against the continuation of the present scheme?
§ Mr. BirchI will convey my hon. Friend's message to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ 40. Sir Edward Keelingasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence the estimated annual reduction, through death, of the sum of £2,100,000 which he stated on 30th June would be the annual cost of raising the retired pay of officers who retired before 1st September, 1950, to the rates of those who retired on or after that date.
§ Mr. BirchThis question could only be answered by an actuarial assessment of the expectation of life of every retired officer concerned. The amount of work involved would not be justified.
§ Sir E. KeelingWill my hon. Friend explain how the annual estimates of the totals payable in pensions are prepared if no estimate is made of the number of officers at each rate who will have died?
§ Mr. BirchI think that if my hon. Friend reads his Question he will see that it involves an assessment over a number of years.
§ Sir E. KeelingI am asking how the annual estimate is made.
§ Mr. NicholsonIs my hon. Friend aware of the great feeling on this side of the House, and in some quarters on the other side of the House, on this matter, and will he assure the House that this question will be reviewed at an early date?