Clause 1 - Pension and compensation schemes: armed and reserve forces
Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill
4:15 pm
Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury, Conservative)
That still exists, but the hon. and gallant Member—he has been a regular officer—should be aware also that that regulation is probably not sustainable in a court action. There are some ugly rumours about that. It is unmistakably age discrimination, but it has not yet been tested in the courts, and I fear that it will be before long. I will not embarrass any of the individuals concerned, but I know of people who have served well and have been a crucial part of the service. They have been offered another posting but have said, quite bluntly, ''No, I feel I have done my bit for the Army. I could of course accept one more posting that would take me to 55, but I am sure I can get a reasonable job outside, and I will go.'' Such individuals will suffer a very large drop in pension—a little over a quarter of it, to be precise—for the subsequent 12 or 13 years. That will create a serious problem.
The main burden of my concern falls not on major generals, brigadiers, or admirals, but on the commander, the major, the RSM and the people in their forties who have given the best of their service life to the armed forces and who will be at a substantial disadvantage. The measure needs to be examined very carefully.