§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 20 March 2003,Official Report, column 54WS, on the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, whether the system of ex-gratia payments will apply to all partners irrespective of sex or sexual orientation; who will make the decision on eligibility for the payments; and if he will make a statement. [105834]
§ Dr. MoonieThe policy change announced on 20 March applies equally to same sex and opposite sex partners; for eligibility, personnel will need to demonstrate that the relationship was substantial. It will also need to be confirmed that the death related to conflict. Decisions on eligibility will initially be taken by the scheme managers using evidence provided by the partner. The partner will be notified of the decision and reasons behind it; where the claim is not accepted, the existing appeals procedures can be invoked including, where the Internal Disputes Resolution Procedures have been exhausted and where otherwise appropriate, reference to the Pensions Ombudsman. The policy change will not be retrospective with respect to deaths occurring before 20 March.