§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the gratuity and pension of a major and a corporal after 22 years service; and how this compares with the redundancy pay of a man on average earnings after 22 years of service with his company.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownAssuming entry into the Army at age of 18 years a major retired at age 40 would receive a pension of £1,988 per annum and a terminal grant of £5,964. A corporal would receive a pension of £1,218 and a terminal grant of £3,654. These figures are based on the pension rates effective from 1st April 1977. The pension rates which will be effective from 1st April 1978 following the pay review are not yet available.
On the basis of the latest available average weekly earnings figure of £78.60, a man dismissed on redundancy with 22 years' service with the same employer, commencing at age 18, would be entitled to a statutory redundancy payment of 19 weeks pay providing a total of £1,493.40.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what the pay of a major and a corporal was in February 592W 1974 in percentage terms of the national average wage for men; and what the current figures are following the pay review.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownStatistics for the national average wage for men are only available relating to April each year. The basic pay of a major and a corporal in February 1974 was 185 per cent. and 101 per cent. respectively of the national average wage in April 1973. A comparison of the rates of pay for the Army which apply from 1st April 1978 and the national average wage for April 1977 produces figures of 182 per cent. and 102 per cent. respectively.