§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will include members of all United Kingdom part-time forces in the armed forces pension scheme. [25918]
§ Mr. IngramThe armed forces pension scheme is an occupational pension scheme providing pension provision for members of the regular armed services. The scheme also provides pensions for members of the reserve forces who serve respectively on full-time or part-time commitments under sections 24 or 25 of the Reserve Forces Act (RFA) 1996.
The scheme does not provide pensions for members of the volunteer reserve forces serving under sections 22 or 27 of the RFA 1996 or for part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment. This reflects the ad hoc nature of their service. However, those who are not included in the armed forces pension scheme are contracted-in to the state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS) and are eligible for pension benefits under that arrangement.
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Ship From To Reason for deployment Period of deployment (months) 1998 Invincible 2 September 1997 26 March 1998 USA/Gulf 6 Monmouth 5 September 1997 1 March 1998 Op. Palliser 6 Newcastle 17 November 1997 10 July 1998 Atlantic Patrol Task (north) 8 Coventry 1 January 1998 5 June 1998 Armilla 6 Manchester 12 January 1998 9 July 1998 Standing Naval Force Atlantic 6 Montrose 12 January 1998 6 August 1998 Atlantic Patrol Task (south) 7 Cornwall 16 February 1998 14 August 1998 Op. Resilient 6 York 5 March 1998 23 October 1998 Armilla 7 Grafton 14 April 1998 21 December 1998 Armilla 8 Edinburgh 27 April 1998 26 November 1998 Atlantic Patrol Task (south) 7 Lancaster 15 June 1998 25 November 1998 Standing Naval Force Atlantic 5 Sheffield 17 June 1998 18 December 1998 Atlantic Patrol Task (north) 6 Sutherland 4 September 1998 26 March 1999 Atlantic Patrol Task (south) 6 Cumberland 8 September 1998 13 May 1999 Armilla 8 1999 Norfolk 5 January 1999 17 June 1999 Standing Naval Force Atlantic 5 Newcastle 9 January 1999 27 May 1999 Armilla 5 Marlborough 12 January 1999 1 July 1999 Atlantic Patrol Task (north) 6 Iron Duke 15 January 1999 27 July 1999 Standing Naval Force Mediterranean 6 Westminster 26 January 1999 12 July 1999 Atlantic Patrol Task (south) 6 Glasgow 1 March 1999 11 November 1999 Five Powers Defence Agreement 8 Birmingham 3 May 1999 11 November 1999 Armilla 6 Northumberland 7 June 1999 7 December 1999 Atlantic Patrol Task (North) 6 Exeter 13 September 1999 10 March 2000 Armilla 6 Somerset 13 September 1999 8 March 2000 Atlantic Patrol Task (south) 6 2000 Campbeltown 7 January 2000 27 July 2000 Standing Naval Force Atlantic 6 Montrose 10 January 2000 28 July 2000 Standing Naval Force Mediterranean 6 Illustrious 15 January 2000 14 June 2000 Gulf 5 Monmouth 18 January 2000 27 July 2000 Armilla 6 Manchester 31 January 2000 21 July 2000 Atlantic Patrol Task (north) 6 Southampton 11 February 2000 18 August 2000 Armilla 6 Benefits are available under the attributable benefits arrangements to members of the volunteer forces or their dependants if they are injured or killed as a result of their service, which are comparable to those of their regular service counterparts.
Since 8 October 2001, payroll deduction facilities have been available to enable members of the volunteer reserves to make contributions into the armed forces stakeholder pension scheme which was introduced in response to regulations under the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1998 to provide pensions to cover those who are excluded from the AFPS.