§ Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the current cost of implementing parity for all Armed Forces pensioners.
§ Mr. DuffyThe answer depends on the definition of parity. The additional cost of paying to ex-Service pensioners under the Armed Forces pension scheme pensions equivalent to those earned by personnel of similar rank retiring today, would, on certain assumptions, be of the order of £130-£150 million a year. If the change were extended to widows, families and the disabled the cost would be considerably greater.