HC Deb 12 July 1985 vol 82 cc567-8W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to check Army pension awards.

Mr. Lee

Routine checks of Army pension awards in issue are carried out by the Army pensions office as a matter of normal procedure. Special checks are also carried out from time to time. A special check has recently been carried out on some 8,800 Army pensions. The possible need for further similar checks is under consideration.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the recently acknowledged 147 errors in service pensions relate solely to Royal Navy or Royal Marines awards; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee

No; of the 147 errors, 52 relate to Royal Navy and Royal Marine pensions, 91 to Army pensions and four to RAF pensions.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether errors have been discovered is Army pensions since his answer of 15 April, Official Report, column 65; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee

Since 15 April two cases have been discovered involving a significant error in the rate of pension in issue and corrective action is being taken. These were isolated cases which did not arise from any general defect in the system in use.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether errors in Royal Air Force pensions have been discovered on computerised records at Innsworth since his answer of 15 April. Official Report, column 65; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee

None has been discovered.