§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to review the levels of service pensions of men and women who retired before 1975; [156116]
(2) when he will publish the review of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement; [156114]
(3) what plans he has to increase service pensions to the widows of service men who married after the service man's retirement and before 1978; [156118]
(4) what steps he is taking to address the differences in widows' service pensions between the widow of a service man who retired in the period up to March 1973, and the widow of a service man who retired after April 1973. [156115]
§ Mr. SpellarI refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence gave on 16 March 2001,Official Report, column 756W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Murphy). The review proposals do not include recommendations to introduce changes to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme retrospectively. This is in line with public sector pension policy maintained by successive Governments.