Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2025 to Question 31092 on Armed Forces: Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that service members who are not eligible for pensions due to them falling under pre-1975 criteria are provided with periodical payments instead.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This is a Government of service and I am leading work across Government and with civil society to look at the best ways to ensure all Veterans get access to the support and opportunities they need and deserve. This year, we will set out our plans for Veterans in our updated Veterans’ Strategy. This Government will always stand up for those who have served our country. That said, the rules governing Armed Forces’ pensions are designed to be fair to all military personnel and thus the awarding of periodic payments is not under consideration by this Department.
The Social Security Act 1973 brought about changes by requiring all occupational pension schemes to preserve pension rights for those who left service after 6 April 1975 having completed at least five years qualifying service and having attained the age of 26. It is a fact that the legacy issues associated with the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 are replicated in other public sector schemes in existence prior to the Social Security Act 1973.
Where legacy issues are common across public sector schemes, any provisions or change implemented for the Armed Forces would certainly result in pressure from others for similar treatment. To concede retrospection or make provisions for one group would place great pressure on other public service schemes and this would have huge financial implications. This would also impact any future meaningful improvements to pension schemes for current employees and make them unaffordable.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2025 to Question 31092 on Armed Forces: Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of that proposal on service members at pension age.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This is a Government of service and I am leading work across Government and with civil society to look at the best ways to ensure all Veterans get access to the support and opportunities they need and deserve. This year, we will set out our plans for Veterans in our updated Veterans’ Strategy. This Government will always stand up for those who have served our country. That said, the rules governing Armed Forces’ pensions are designed to be fair to all military personnel and thus the awarding of periodic payments is not under consideration by this Department.
The Social Security Act 1973 brought about changes by requiring all occupational pension schemes to preserve pension rights for those who left service after 6 April 1975 having completed at least five years qualifying service and having attained the age of 26. It is a fact that the legacy issues associated with the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 are replicated in other public sector schemes in existence prior to the Social Security Act 1973.
Where legacy issues are common across public sector schemes, any provisions or change implemented for the Armed Forces would certainly result in pressure from others for similar treatment. To concede retrospection or make provisions for one group would place great pressure on other public service schemes and this would have huge financial implications. This would also impact any future meaningful improvements to pension schemes for current employees and make them unaffordable.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Social Security Act 1973 to ensure pensioners who served in the armed forces prior to 6 April 1975 but did not meet the qualifying service threshold receive a pension.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Although the Ministry of Defence is unable to comment on possible changes to the Social Security Act 1973 as this legislation was introduced by the Department of Social Security, now the Department for Work and Pensions, I am leading work across Government and with civil society to look at the best ways to ensure all Veterans get access to the support and opportunities they need and deserve. This year, we will set out our plans for Veterans in our updated Veterans’ Strategy. This Government will always stand up for those who have served our country.
Prior to 1975, there were no rights to preserved pensions in any public or private pension schemes. For instance, to qualify for a pension under the Civil Service arrangements, an individual had to be over age 50 and have served for ten or more years. Those who left voluntarily before meeting these criteria lost rights to pensions. For the Armed Forces, occupational pensions were awarded only if a member had completed at least 16 years reckonable service as an Officer or 22 years reckonable service as an Other Rank. Reckonable service is paid service after age 21 for officers or after age 18 for Other Ranks.
Engagements for shorter periods were on non-pensionable terms. Gratuities (lump-sum payments) were awarded to those who did not serve long enough for a pension but had completed at least nine years reckonable service as an Officer or 12 years reckonable service as an Other Rank. Gratuities were not paid to compensate for lack of pension but rather to assist the individual to settle into civilian life.
The Social Security Act 1973 brought about changes by requiring all occupational pension schemes to preserve pension rights for those who left service after 6 April 1975 having completed at least five years qualifying service and having attained the age of 26 (later Social Security Acts reduced the qualifying period from five years to two years and removed the age qualification requirement). These changes were not made retrospective.
The legacy issues of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 are replicated in other public sector schemes in existence prior to the Social Security Act 1973. Where legacy issues are common across public sector schemes, a retrospective change implemented for the Armed Forces would certainly result in pressure from others for similar treatment. To concede retrospection for one group would place great pressure on other public service schemes. Further, if retrospection were to be accepted, future meaningful improvements to pension schemes for current employees would be unaffordable. It is a principle of public service pensions policy, and one that has been upheld by successive Governments, that improvements to pension schemes are not made retrospective.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Social Security Act 1973 on veterans who served before 6 April 1975 but did not meet the qualifying service threshold.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This Government will always stand up for those who have served our country, and I am leading work across Government and with civil society to look at the best ways to ensure all veterans get access to the support and opportunities they need and deserve. This year, we will set out our plans for veterans in our updated Veterans’ Strategy.
It is a principle of public service pensions policy, and one that has been upheld by successive Governments, that improvements to pension schemes are not made retrospective. The legacy issues of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 are replicated in other public sector schemes in existence prior to the Social Security Act 1973. Accordingly, a retrospective change implemented for the Armed Forces would certainly result in pressure from other public sector schemes for similar treatment. Although no specific estimate has been made, resolving legacy issues across the board would cost the tax-payer billions of pounds and render future meaningful improvements to pension schemes for current employees unaffordable.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions on future US-UK defence collaboration he has had with the incoming US Defense Secretary.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The US is our closest security ally. The Government looks forward to working with the incoming US Administration in the months and years ahead. The Senate confirmation process is ongoing for members of President-elect Trump’s cabinet.
The Prime Minister had a warm introductory call with President-Elect Trump on 6 November and spoke again with the President-elect on 18 December. The Prime Minister offered his congratulations and said he looked forward to working closely with President-elect Trump across all areas of the special relationship and our shared priorities, including international security.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to expedite compensation for nuclear test veterans.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend, the Minister for the Armed Forces (Luke Pollard), on 27 November 2024 to Question 15649 to the hon. Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd (Liz Saville Roberts).
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department allocated to spending on defence research and development in the last 12 months.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department's spend on research and development for financial year (FY) 2023-24 was £2.6 billion. Spend for the period in FY 2024-25 will be published in the Departmental Annual Report and Accounts after the end of this financial year.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much he plans to allocate to spending on defence research and development in the next 12 months.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence research and development remains critical to maximising the operational advantage of our Armed Forces in an increasingly volatile and technology-driven world. The Department is committed to investing in cutting edge science, technology and innovation.
Following the recent Autumn Budget announcement, the allocation of funding for the next 12 months is ongoing.