§ Mr. Barry Field (Isle of Wight)I beg to ask leave to present a petition on behalf of my constituent, Major Peter Thompson, Royal Marines, retired, who should have retired from active service on his 48th birthday in 1976. The Royal Marines asked him to extend his service, which, as the loyal officer he was, he agreed to do, and his service was extended by 14 months. Unfortunately, because of the then Labour Government's pay restraint policies, when Major Thompson retired, his pension was effectively reduced, through no fault of his own. Major Thompson believes that, by agreeing to extend his service, the Ministry of Defence in effect promised to protect his pension entitlement. The petition states:
Wherefore your Petitioner prays that your Honourable House at least resolves to have his date of retirement from the Royal Marines amended to that which it should have been, under Service Regulations then pertaining, from his actual date of retirement some fourteen months later, after loyally agreeing to this extension of service which so adversely affects his retired pay now and contrary to what was promised by the Authorities at the time of his acceding to their request.And your Petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.