§ 8. Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will initiate a complete review of the system of commuting pensions of non-commissioned ranks in the Armed Forces, including the delays in making the commuted pension available, and the basis on which the commuted pension quantum is computed.
§ Mr. MayhewI am looking into the hon. Member's suggestions and will write to him.
§ Mr. Maxwell-HyslopWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind two things? One is the sense of injustice experienced by people who have commuted their pension and do not receive any extra money when there is a Pension (Increase) Act on the part of the pension which has been commuted? Secondly, will he bear in mind the necessity for speed in commuting pensions for ex-Service men who come out with specific motives, for instance to take over a business, a pub or a shop, and who are unable to get the money to do so before the business is sold to someone else?
§ Mr. MayhewWe shall certainly look into those points. We are worried about the anomalies which exist between commutation rights for officers and those for other ranks.