HC Deb 09 November 1973 vol 863 cc257-9W
Mr. David Price

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many retired Service men have been in receipt of a Service pension in each year since 1960.

Mr. Buck

I am not able to give figures for years before 1964 without disproportionate effort. For the years since then the approximate figures are as follows:—

1964 210,500
1965 211,100
1966 210,600
1967 210,600
1968 214,700
1969 219,100
1970 218,700
1971 220,400
1972 219,600
1973 221,100

Mr. David Price

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many retired Service men are currently in receipt of a Service pension; and how they are distributed by age, sex, and former service.

Mr. Buck

The total number of retired Service men currently in receipt of a Service pension is approximately 221,100.

As regards distribution by age, sex and former service, the best information available is as follows

R.N.
Under 55 26,000
55 & Over 44,100
Army
55 and Under 35,450
Over 55 68,850
R.A.F.
Under 55 21,200
55 & Over 26,400

There are about 250 women pensioners included in the figures for the Royal Navy; the respective figures for the Army and the Royal Air Force are 980 and 800

Mr. David Price

asked the Minister of State for Defence what steps have been taken by the present Government since they have been in office to improve the position of the Service pensioner.

Mr. Buck

In 1971 arrangements for the restoration and maintenance of the purchasing power of Service pensions were introduced which constituted a major reform for the benefit of Service pensioners, and the reduction last December in the age at which these increases normally become payable from 60 to 55 is of especial benefit in the case of the Armed Forces where men and women retire on pension at comparatively young ages.

In April 1972 the first stage of the review of the Armed Forces occupational pension scheme resulted in substantial improvements in the retirement pensions of those leaving the Armed Forces after that date.

In April 1973 the second stage of the review improved provisions in cases of invaliding and death of men and women serving on or after that date, on the lines of similar improvements in other public service schemes.