§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to restore the original purchasing power of retirement pensions paid to ex-members of the Armed Forces and to provide protection for them against inflation in the future.
§ Mr. JuddArmed Forces pensions are reviewed annually and increases, related to the rise in the cost of living, are payable from December to pensioners who have reached the age of 55. If they are invalided from the Service or have since become incapacitated there is no age restriction.
Men may retire from the Forces with an immediate pension much earlier than from other occupations. We hope that fit Service pensioners will obtain civilian jobs, and that their income from these will help them to keep up with inflation until they reach a normal retiring age.