HC Deb 12 February 2002 vol 380 cc177-8W
Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence of those members of the armed forces pension scheme who retired between 1975 and 1977, how many(a) survive and (b) are survived by a widow or widower to whom a pension is paid. [33619]

Dr. Moonie

[holding answer 11 February 2002]: This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to the armed forces pension scheme(a) for existing service personnel and (b) for those who have already left the services of paying full half pensions to surviving widows or widowers for the whole of their remaining lives notwithstanding re-marriage. [32764]

Dr. Moonie

This information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army service personnel have been granted war disablement pensions since the earliest date for which he recently examined the records. [32678]

Dr. Moonie

A claim for war disablement pension may be made only after discharge from the armed forces. The War Pensions Agency is responsible for administration of the War Pensions Scheme.

Information on war disablement pensions in payment to former members of each service is not available. However, as at 31 December 2001 a total of 223,000 war disablement pensions were in payment.

Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2002,Official Report, column 857W, on service pensions, if he will make a statement on the findings of his inquiries when they are completed. [35739]

Dr. Moonie

I will provide the hon. Member with further advice first when we have completed our work to try to clarify precisely when the problem arose and then later when we have a clearer idea of the numbers of service personnel affected.

Work to try to establish the start-point for the error should be completed in a few weeks. Establishing the numbers affected is expected to take significantly longer. The publicity given to the problem has already generated a considerable number of inquiries and we will deal with these as quickly as possible.