§ Mr. G. Longdenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many ex-Service men are not eligible for an increased pension until they are 60 years of age under the pensions increases schemes on the ground that they left the Service before September, 1950; how much it would cost to put these men on the same level as those who left after that date; and whether he can now consider more generous treatment being given to them.
§ Mr. BirchI have been asked to reply. About 80,000 pensioners of all three Services, who retired before 1st September, 1950, are under 60 and do not receive pensions increases. It is not possible to say how many of these would become eligible under the other conditions of the pensions increase schemes if the age limit were removed. The cost of giving these pensioners, who were pensioned under the retired pay and pensions codes in force when they retired, the benefit of the current code would be over £2 million.
As regards the last part of the Question, I cannot agree that the Service pensioners concerned have received less generous treatment than is accorded to State pensioners in general. The policy of the Government remains as stated in paragraph 44 of Command 9092.