§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the armed forces' daily pay rate is deducted for the purpose of contributing to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. [134493]
§ Mr. CaplinNo deduction is made from the pay of Volunteer Reservists for the purpose of contributing to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what mechanisms(a) have existed since 1973 and (b) exist to ensure that all members of the armed forces are fully informed of their pension entitlements on leaving the services and if he will make a statement; [134918]
(2) what incidences there are of members of the armed forces not being informed of their pension entitlements on leaving the services: and if he will make a statement. [134919]
§ Mr. CaplinMechanisms have been in existence since 1973, to inform, by letter, all members of the armed forces of their pension entitlements on leaving the Services. Computer generated printouts for each Service advise the pension divisions of the requirement to produce this letter.
A problem has been identified affecting some former service personnel with less than two years service, who may not have received their entitlements to an Armed Forces Pension Scheme attributable gratuity, or pension. We expect the great majority of omissions to have been rectified by January 2004. Procedures have been tightened to prevent a reoccurrence.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what rights members of the armed forces(a) have and (b) have had to backdate their pensions if they were not informed of their pension entitlements on leaving the services; and if he will make a statement; [134920]
(2) under what circumstances a former member of the armed forces who has not collected their pension from the first date at which there were entitled to it can receive backdated payments; and if he will make a statement. [134921]
§ Mr. CaplinMembers who have not claimed their pension entitlement on leaving the armed forces, or have not claimed when their entitlement becomes due, have a right to receive payments backdated to six years, in line with the Statute of Limitations Act 1980. However, Ministry of Defence and HM Treasury may authorise that payments be backdated further, depending on the merits of each case. Payments are usually backdated in full and are always so where non-payment was due to a mistake on the part of MOD.
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