HL Deb 16 February 1989 vol 504 cc385-6WA
Lord Elton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will show, in tabular form where possible, for each of the five most recent years for which figures are available:

  1. (1) how many
    1. (a) widows; and
    2. (b) wives
    there were of servicemen of all ranks who retired before 31st March 1973; and
  2. (2) what would have been the actual additional cost of providing those widows with half rather than one-third of their late husbands' pensions; and
  3. (3) what was the total cost of pensions paid
    1. (a) to servicemen of all ranks who had retired before 31st March 1973 and to widows of such servicemen; and
    2. (b) to servicemen of all ranks who had retired after that date and to the widows of such servicemen; and
  4. (4) what was the total cost of
    1. (a) retirement pensions; and
    2. (b) widows pensions.

The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Lord Trefgarne)

Answers to parts (1), (2) and (3) of the Question could only be provided at quite disproportionate cost. On part (4) of the Question total expenditure for the most recent five years is available in the form of (a) all servicemen's retired pay and pensions (b) widows' pensions, lump sum payments and children's pensions combined (see note below) as follows:

(a) (b)
£ million £ million
1983/84 520.665 72.721
1984/85 562.590 77.217
1985/86 603.979 82.897
1986/87 661.280 91.439
1987/88 695.111 95.190
Note: Separate figures for expenditure on widows' readily available.

Lord Elton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What would be the total net cost of paying henceforth to the widows of servicemen of all ranks who retired before 31st March 1973 half rather than one-third of their late husbands. pensions, as is now the case with the widows of other servicemen.

  1. (a) if surviving ex-servicemen of this description were required to buy in the increased pension on terms similar to those available to their predecessors in 1973; and
  2. (b) if no such requirement were made.

Lord Trefgarne

No valid estimate cart be given of the additional costs which would arise were the principle of non-restrospection to be set aside so as to create a buy-back facility in relation to those servicemen who retired before 31st March 1973. The total number of current and prospective widows involved is not readily determinable, and significant actuarial problems would also arise in calculation of appropriate and equitable contribution rates. The total cost of bringing all widows' pensions currently in issue up to the half rate has been estimated to be in the region of £27 million per year.