§ Mr. Paul Deanasked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to amend the forces family pension scheme to include pensions for widows in cases where retirement has taken place before the marriage, in order to conform with the contracting out provisions of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975.
§ Mr. DuffyThe effect on occupational pension schemes in the public sector, including the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, of this and other requirements of contracting out under the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 is under consideration. I can, however, confirm that from April 1978 there will be provision, under the Act, for a pension for a "post-retirement" widow of a Service pensioner. As with all improvements in public sector pension schemes, this one cannot be applied retrospectively.