§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the implications of the Pensions Green Paper for armed forces personnel's future pensions. [131313]
§ Malcolm WicksThe Department has worked closely with MoD officials to ensure that the proposals have taken full account of the changes to policy likely to emerge from the Pension's Green Paper (published in December 2002).
The proposals for the new schemes reflect recent announcements on pensions reform. For example, the replacement of the early Immediate Pension provision with an Early Departure Scheme will ensure compliance with Inland Revenue proposals to increase the earliest age from which a pension can be paid from 50 to 55.