§ 45. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Defence what would be the cost of increasing the pensions of former members of the Armed Services and their widows, respectively, which are now paid at the rates laid down in the 1945, 1919, and earlier codes to the rates payable under the 1950, 1956, and 1960 codes, respectively.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI have assumed that the Question relates to officers on the codes referred to and to their widows. The following is the information.
The cost of increasing the pensions of former members of the Armed Services which are now paid at the rates laid down in the 1945, 1919 and earlier codes to the rates payable under the 1950, 1956 and 1960 codes, would be about £2.6 million, £3.9 million and £5.9 million, respectively.
The cost of similar increases for the widows of these pensioners would be about £0.4 million, £0.5 million and £0.6 million, respectively.