HL Deb 18 November 2003 vol 654 cc279-80WA
Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What benefits will be payable when the planned changes to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme take effect in 2005 to war widows aged 70 or over who are:

  1. (a) pre-1973 war widows with their own state retirement pension;
    2. WA 280
  2. (b) pre-1973 war widows without their own state retirement pension;
  3. (c) post-1973 war widows with their own state retirement pension; and
  4. (d) post-1973 war widows without their own state retirement pension [HL5272]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)

Current widows will not be affected by the introduction of the new Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) as it is not retrospective. Subject to legislative progress through both Houses, the new AFPS will have an effective date of 6 April 2005 for new entrants to the Armed Forces. Current members of the AFPS will have the opportunity to transfer to the new scheme as soon as possible in a two-year transition period. Members who have already retired and their dependants will remain with their current arrangements.