§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-servicemen receive levels of pensions that were adversely affected by short-term pay restraint measures which were in force at their date of retirement. [82575]
§ Mr. Doug Henderson[holding answer 4 May 1999]: During periods of pay restraint, principally during the mid 1970s, the pay of members of the armed forces rose by less than the rate of increase of the retail prices index (RPI). As a consequence the pensions of those who retired during these periods can be lower than the pensions of those who retired either before or after that period. The numbers affected are not known. However, the numbers leaving the armed forces during the years 1976–78 ranged between 46,500 and 48,500, but not all of those who retired during those years would have been entitled to a pension.