§ 20. Mr. Huntasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now make arrangements for the transfer of pension rights for those police officers who were formerly serving in the Armed Forces.
§ Mr. CarlisleNo, Sir. At present the Armed Forces pension scheme does not provide for the payment of the value of pension rights on transfer to another scheme. I understand that this aspect of the Armed Forces pension scheme is under review and future practice will be considered in the light of the outcome of the review.
§ Mr. HuntIs not it an absurd anomaly that a police officer who formerly served, for example, in the Post Office, or as a clerk in local government, is entitled to the transfer of his pension rights, whereas a man who fought in the Armed Forces during the war and subsequently joined the police force enjoys no such entitlement? In the interests of justice and common sense, will my hon. and learned Friend speed up the review and, if it is favourable, implement it?
§ Mr. CarlisleI accept that it appears to be an anomaly, but it is based on the fact that the Armed Forces' pension scheme is of a wholly different nature from the pension schemes in the police service and the public service, in which pension schemes are freely transferable. 1457 The review is being carried out by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and I shall draw to his attention what my hon. Friend has said.