§ Miss Quennellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is now the total pension of the widow of a major who had retired after maximum service in April 1950, and whose death on 31st August 1950 was attributable, compared with her total pension income today had her husband died one day later.
§ Mr. William RodgersIf the widow has not yet reached the age of 65, her total pension if her husband had died80W on 31st August 1950 would be £617, compared with £1,065.95 had he died one day later. The latter figure includes a modified Forces Family Pension which became admissible in addition to the war widow's pension issued by the Department of Health and Social Security although an abatement was made in respect of the rank element therein.
§ Miss Quennellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the total pension income today of the widow of a major killed on duty aged 30 years: (1) in January 1974, (2) in Ulster in January 1971, and (3) in January 1968, assuming that she had two eligible children.
§ Mr. William RodgersIt is the length of service rather than the age of the deceased officer which is relevant and I am assuming for the purpose of this reply that there is reckonable service of nine years, that is, from the age of 21. Since total pension income is asked for, I include war widow's and children's pensions, which are payable by the Department of Health and Social Security.
The total pension income would be:
(1) for death in January 1974 £3,393.60 (2) for death in January 1971 (Ulster) £1,511.90 (3) for death in January 1968 £965.40 The figure given for Ulster in 1971 would be subject to abatement if the widow had received an award under the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968. In each instance quoted, the widow would have received a gratuity at the time of her husband's death.
§ Miss Quennellasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is now the total pension income of the childless widow of a major killed on service in Ulster in April 1970 after nine years' service; and by how much it has been increased since awarded, compared with the same pension had her husband been killed in April 1973.
§ Mr. William RodgersIf her husband had been killed on service in Ulster in April 1970 after nine years' service her war widow's pension—if she is under 40—issued by the Department of Health and Social Security would have been 81W £170 per annum. With effect from 1st April 1973 she would have received, in addition, an ex gratia annual pension from the Ministry of Defence of £300 and this would have been uprated to £327.90 by a recent pensions increase. Had her husband been killed in April 1973 she would be receiving the same pension of £170 from the Department of Health and Social Security but she would also be eligible for the Attributable Forces Family Pension of £1,712 per annum which was introduced on 1st April 1973. In both instances a gratuity would have been payable at the time of her husband's death.