§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date war widows will be able to keep their armed forces pension on remarriage. [99094]
§ Mr. SpellarThe payment of widows' pensions is being examined as part of the review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme which is currently under way. We hope it will be concluded by next summer. It is not possible at this stage to comment on the outcome.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions Ministers or his officials have held with the Department of Social Security in respect of war pensions for widows; and if he will make a statement. [100310]
§ Mr. SpellarMOD and DSS officials have worked closely on the joint MOD-DSS review of compensation for members of the armed forces who suffer illness, injury, and death for reasons attributable to service. The MOD and DSS routinely discuss war pensions issues, including arrangements for war widows. There are also day-to-day contacts between DSS War Pensions Agency and the MOD Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency about the handling of individual cases.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of war widows retaining for life attributable pensions awarded under his Department's armed forces pension scheme. [100313]
§ Mr. SpellarWe estimate that the cost of war widows retaining for life their attributable pensions would be between £2 million and £3 million per annum.