§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the differences in percentage terms between the outright annuality anomaly for 31 March 1976 and 31 March to 1 April 1991 for(a) a brigadier's pension, (b) an air commodore's pension, (c) a senior naval captain's pension; and what steps he intends taking to remove these anomalies.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonScales of retired pay for brigadiers, air commodores and senior naval captains are the same. For officers in those ranks retiring on the160W maximum point on the scale, which is achieved by 34 years reckonable service, the retired pay currently received expressed as a percentage of the rate awarded for retirement on 1st April 1991 is as follows:
Initial awards of retired pay are derived from rates of military salary in force at the date of retirement. They are subsequently increased through index-linking arrangements which take into account movements in the retail prices index. The Ministry of Defence has no plans to adjust rates of retired pay previously awarded in accordance with normal rules, other than through the normal index-linking arrangements.
- 90.3 per cent, where retired pay first came into payment on 31 March 1976.
- 84.7 per cent, where retired pay first came into payment on 31 March 1991.