§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received from the(a) Armed Forces Pension Group, (b) individuals and (c) others in support of the Group; and if he will make a statement. [36381]
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§ Mr. IngramNo representations have been received directly from the Armed Forces Pension Group. However, since the start of 2001, around 230 individual representations have been received on the subject of pension rights for service prior to 1975. It is thought that the vast majority was from members of the Group or supporters of its objectives. We have also receive representation from a pensioners' federation.
§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken in response to representations by the Armed Forces Pension Group that service in the armed forces should count towards their civil service pensions; and if he will make a statement. [36380]
§ Mr. IngramService in the armed forces and service with the civil service are different employments with different terms, conditions and career patterns. It is reasonable that each should be covered by a separate occupational pension scheme.
Whether service with the armed forces may count towards the civil service pension scheme is a matter for the Cabinet Office, who is the managers of the scheme. It should be noted that service covered by one occupational pension scheme cannot count directly towards the occupational pension scheme of another employer. However, a facility is available to enable the pension rights earned under one employer's occupational pension scheme to be transferred to the occupational pension scheme of another employer, but this is only possible where a transfer of the preserved pension benefits is made. Prior to 1 April 1975 there was no legal requirement for any pension scheme to preserve pension rights for those who left service before reaching the normal retirement age, therefore transfers did not take place before this date.