§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what pension entitlements are available for members of(a) the reserve forces and (b) the regular forces; and if he will make a statement. [134916]
§ Mr. CaplinPension entitlement for reservists is determined by the type of Reserve Service undertaken. Members entering Full-Time Reserve Service (FTRS), and those undertaking part-time reserve service on an Additional Duties Commitment (ADC), may be entitled to pension benefits under the reservists' section of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. Members of the Volunteer Reserve Forces are not entitled to membership of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, except when they are called-out or mobilised for permanent service; in these circumstances, the Department will alternatively, if they so wish, pay the employer contribution to their civilian pension arrangement. Members of the regular forces are entitled to membership of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. All members of the armed forces, whether regular, FTRS, ADC or volunteer reserve, may be entitled to benefits for an injury, illness or death that is due to military service; in these circumstances, arrangements are designed to provide that there is, at least, a broadly comparable level of benefit.