§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received concerning the loss of widow's and widower's pensions on post-retirement remarriage; and if he will make a statement on the progress of his review of widow's and widower's pensions. [77863]
§ Mr. SpellarMy right hon. Friend from time to time receives representations from hon. Members, the ex-service organisations and from individuals, on widow's and widower's pensions, including suggestions that the widows or widowers of post-retirement marriages to former members of the Armed Forces who left the Services before 6 April 1978 should be entitle to a Forces Family Pension. Widow's and widower's pensions will be examined as part of the review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, which is expected to report later this year. This will include a re-examination of the entitlement of such individuals, but I cannot yet predict the outcome. It would be a departure from normal practice to make retrospective improvements to the terms of pensions already in payment.