Lord Chelwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
On what principles the pensions of pre-1973 war widows, and the pensions of war widows on the one-third pension rate are uprated, and whether such principles have been adhered to in the past.
§ The Minster of State for Defence Procurement (Lord Trefgarne)War widows' pensions are uprated in the same way as Social Security long-term pensions and benefits, by reference to movements in the Retail Prices Index. No distinction is made for this purpose between pre- and post-1973 war widows. For a limited period only, from 1974 to 1979, these pensions and benefits were subject to adjustment in line with the growth of earnings or prices, whichever was the more favourable.
Under the armed forces occupational pension scheme, those pensions which are subject to index-linking, including widows' pensions at the one-third rate, are increased by reference to movements in the Retail Prices Index. This principle continued to apply during the period 1974 to 1979.