Mr. Jacksonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the total numbers of officers and men of each rank-equivalent who retired during the periods (a) 1 April 1977 to 31 March 1978 and (b) 1 April 1983 to 31 March 1984, indicating the numbers of those (i) receiving a reduced pension because of premature retirement, (ii) who commuted a part of their pension and (iii) who have since died, distinguishing between those who have surviving widows and those who do not, and giving the total pension cost for the year 1984–85 in respect of those who retired during each of the specified periods.
§ Mr. LeeThe number of those who retired from whatever cause in the periods 1 April 1977 to 31 March 1978 and 1 April 1983 to 31 March 1984 and who were in receipt of pension on 31 March 1984 is as follows:
271W
1977–78 1983–84 Rank* Male Female Male Female Lt. General and above 22 — 8 — Maj. General 47 — 26 — Brigadier 67 1 75 2 Colonel 109 4 168 4 Lt. Colonel 408 2 432 7 Major 857 15 868 29 Captain and below 544 1 376 8 Warrant Officer I 1,040 5 824 7 Warrant Officer II 601 3 697 7 Staff Sergeant 2,518 10 2,030 9 Sergeant 1,681 8 1,563 10 Corporal 1,034 3 658 5
1977–78 1983–84 Rank* Male Female Male Female Lance Corporal and below 681 3 338 4 * Including equivalent ranks in the RN and RAF. Note:
Certain pensions associated with disability are borne on DHSS votes and are not included in the above table.
Answers to the specific questions at (i) to (iii) could only be provided at disproportionate cost.