HC Deb 10 July 1979 vol 970 cc242-3
5. Dr. Summerskill

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of his recent announcement that the entitlements generally of Service women should be brought into line with those of men, he will now take steps to bring the pension entitlements of Service women into line with those of Service men.

The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Keith Speed)

The personal pensions of Service women are already in line with those of their male colleagues. However, unlike the widows and dependent children of Service men, the widowers and dependent children of Service women are not at present eligible for pensions. I have already begun an examination of this aspect.

Dr. Summerskill

I welcome the examination which the hon. Gentleman is undertaking, but will he bear in mind that in April last year the Labour Government found the money to introduce equal pay for equal work among Service men and Service women, and will he therefore find the money to introduce an equal pension scheme for widows and widowers within the Services?

Mr. Speed

I am pressing on and looking into these matters as quickly as I can, but it will take a little time. We are looking into the problem, which is one of trying to bring both sides into line. I shall make an announcement as soon as possible.

Mr. Gummer

While my hon. Friend is looking into the question of Service women and their rights under the pension scheme, will he look also into the problems of widows of Service men who lose their pension for all time when they remarry a Service man who does not carry a widow's pension?

Mr. Speed

That is another matter, which does not relate to the present question, but I am aware of the problems to which my hon. Friend refers.

Mr. Concannon

While the Minister is looking into these anomalies, will he look at another one, raised by the Ex-Regular Servicemen's Pensions Association, relating to those who were retired prior to 1973 and those retired after 1973? The discrepancy in pension is pretty large.

Mr. Speed

This matter revolves around the various pension Acts. I am not sure that I can give a firm guarantee on that. There are many anomalies in pension schemes—the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross) and others mentioned them at our last Question Time—and we are looking into these various aspects.