§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to extend the provision of RAF pensions to surviving spouses of service personnel; and if he will make a statement. [82042]
§ Mr. Doug Henderson[holding answer 26 April 1999]: Surviving spouses of members of the RAF, like those of other Service personnel, are generally entitled to receive a widow's pension. There are two exceptions: pensions are not paid to widows or widowers who married their partner before 1978 but after their partner had left the armed forces; and pensions are withdrawn from widows and widowers who remarry (although they may be restored if their second spouse subsequently dies). From time to time we receive representations to extend entitlements to these groups, and we shall examine them again as part of the current review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.