§ 1. Mr. Edward Evansasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware of the disquiet caused by the anomalies in the new pension rates as between non-commissioned officers who retired in 1954, or before, and those who retire now under the new pension awards in the Royal Marines, that a colour-sergeant, who left the Service after 21 years' service, gets a pension of £2 4s. per week, while a marine of similar rank, retiring today, after 17 years' service, is entitled to £2 17s. per week, that the liability for recall is continued up to the age of 55 years in the Royal Marines and in the Royal Navy and not in other branches of Her Majesty's Forces; and if he will bring the new pension rates of those who retired before the new rates came into operation up to the new standard.
§ The Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty (Mr. Robert Allan)In general, public service pensions once awarded do not change, although certain increases are awarded on old pensions under the various pensions increase schemes which have been subsequently introduced.
As regards the second part of the Question, a man retiring with a pension after 17 years' service in fact would only do so either by invaliding or if he were retired under the premature retirement scheme. One of the benefits of this scheme is a pension credit of up to five years.
Royal Navy and Royal Marine pensioners may be called up in an emergency without regard to age; men who have attained the age of 55 would not, however, be recalled. I understand that the Army and the Royal Air Force pensioners have a recall liability until the age of 60.
The action on the last part of the Question is not for me to take.
§ Mr. EvansIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the sense of grievance and injustice felt by a great many of these men who retired some years ago when comparing their rates with the newer rates? If one of them were recalled, as he is liable to be, and were subsequently retired, would he retire on the new rate of pension or on the old rate?
§ Mr. AllanAs regards the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, of course this applies to all public service pensions. It includes nurses, policemen, firemen, civil servants, and so on. As regards the second part of the, question, I would not like to answer it without notice, but I think that the man would retire on his present pension.
§ Dame Irene WardHas my hon. Friend or his right hon. Friend made representation to the Treasury on the need for doing something further for those who have served in the Forces of the Crown, as well as for others? Can he say when we may expect that something better will be provided for them than has been provided in the past, which I think is scandalous?
§ Mr. AllanThe Treasury is aware of the situation, but I would remind my hon. Friend that this Government have done a great deal in this respect.
§ Dame Irene WardNot enough.