§ Mr. CawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when regulations A will be made governing the entitlement of members of the reserve forces to attributable pensions benefits. [160355]
§ Dr. MoonieMy hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces announced on 18 May 2000,Official Report, columns 2000–01W, that the Department had been reviewing its policy on attributable benefits for members of the reserve forces, in particular with regard to those who served in the Gulf conflict. Under the existing regulations, awards are made to individuals who were medically discharged when demobilised from active service. As a result of the review, it was agreed that the eligibility would be extended to reservists who were medically discharged from the reserve forces at other times.
I am therefore pleased to announce that the new regulations, entitled the "Reserve Forces (Attributable Benefits Etc) Regulations 2001", have now been made and came into force on 30 April 2001. We will make payments under these regulations as soon as practicable after this date.