§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now make a statement on the Government's future policy towards service pensions.
§ Mr. HattersleyPensions and redundancy compensation and other terminal benefits will be increased from 1st April by percentages corresponding to the real percentage increases in pay for each rank under the new Pay Code: that is after taking into account that the new military salary should properly be compared with the former basic pay, marriage allowance, and ration allowance, and that the real increases are offset to the extent that quartering charges have been increased. In consequence individual increases vary. The overall figure averages 18 per cent. Detailed rates expressing this formula will be published as soon as possible. As regards existing pensioners, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) on 3rd November, 1969.—[Vol. 790, c.39.]