HC Deb 19 September 2002 vol 390 c318W
Mr. Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many retired disabled officers in receipt of a pension granted on account of medical unfitness attributable to military service have been assessed by the War Pensions Agency as having a 0 per cent, level of disability. [72852]

Dr. Moonie

Attributable disablement pensions may be awarded to officers and other ranks under either the War Pension Scheme (WPS) or the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS). Under the WPS, War Disablement Pensions or Gratuities would not be awarded in cases where the level of disability is assessed at 0 per cent. Under the AFPS, a Service Attributable Pension would similarly not be paid for conditions where the level of disability is assessed at 0 per cent. Service Invaliding Pensions may be in payment for attributable conditions at 0 per cent. but we could only establish the numbers involved by a review of individual files. The costs of such an exercise would be disproportionate.

Mr. Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many retired disabled officers in receipt of a pension granted on account of medical unfitness attributable to military service who have been identified as potentially entitled to a refund of wrongly deducted income tax(a) have received a full refund, (b) have been declined a refund and (c) have their cases subject to review. [72851]

Dr. Moonie

Of the 1,028 pensioners who have received a full refund of income tax from the Inland Revenue, 46 are retired officers.

Details of the number of retired officers found not to be eligible to receive a refund of tax, or whose cases remain subject to review, are not held, although the total numbers, comprising both retired officers and other ranks, are available. These indicate that to date, the records of 53,503 personnel have been examined and a refund of tax found not to be due, and that 1,466 cases remain subject to review.