§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now bring the pensions of pre-1973 service widows into line with those paid to those widowed since 1973; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonUnder the rules of the armed forces pension scheme the payment of pensions to the widows of servicemen depends upon the terms and conditions in force at the date on which their husbands540W completed their service, or died in service. The rules of the scheme were changed in 1973 and these changes applied only to personnel giving service on or after 31 March 1973. In accordance with normal principles and practice for occupational pension schemes, the revised rules did not apply retrospectively to include former members of the scheme, and there are no plans to do so now.