§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the percentage increases in Armed Forces pay, average industrial earnings, Service pensions, and cost of living for each year from 1964 to date.
§ Mr. MulleyIt was not until 1970, when the military salary was introduced, that the pay of the Armed Forces could be compared in any way with civilian earnings. The information below has. therefore, been restricted accordingly.
Increases in Service pensions are granted to those already on pension. The amounts quoted are the standard rates of increase awarded on each 1st December by analogy with the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971.
how many have been granted, refused or remain outstanding, respectively.
§ Dr. Gilbert,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th May 1977; Vol. 932, c. 107], gave the following information:
The numbers of officers who have applied for and been granted or refused 179W all forms of premature release since 1971 are as follows:
Applications Applications Approved Applications Refused RN/RM Army RAF RN/RM Army RAF RN/RM Army RAF 1971–72 … … 150 423 356 144 414 350 6 9 6 1972–73 … … 187 573 433 183 561 421 4 12 12 1973–74 … … 245 607 583 242 595 534 3 12 49 1974–75 … … 234 628 517 230 606 489 4 22 28 1975–76 … … 207 644 536 206 627 511 1 17 25 1976–77 … … 299 562 494 287 552 405 6 10 71 At 1st June 1977 no decision had been taken on six RN/RM and 18 RAF applications which were received before 31st March 1977. I regret that to produce figures for the years before 1971 would involve disproportionate effort.