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Overview

This bill aims to ensure equal treatment in the calculation and payment of pensions for widows and civil partners of deceased armed forces personnel who retired before 1973 and between 1973 and 2005. It mandates that the Secretary of State create regulations to standardize pension calculations across these periods.

Description

The Forces Widows’ Pensions (Equality of Treatment) Bill seeks to rectify inequalities in pension payments to surviving spouses and civil partners of deceased armed forces personnel. Specifically, it addresses:

• Unequal Pension Calculations: The bill requires the Secretary of State to introduce regulations within 12 months of its passing to ensure pensions for those who retired before March 31st, 1973, and between March 31st, 1973, and April 6th, 2005, are calculated and paid using the same method.
• Scope: This applies to widows and civil partners of armed forces personnel (excluding reserve forces) who died after their retirement.
• Exemption: The bill explicitly states that it does not affect pensions under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme Order 2005.
• Regulatory Powers: The Secretary of State has broad powers to create supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitory, transitional, and saving provisions, including the power to amend or repeal existing legislation via statutory instrument. These regulations are subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

Government Spending

The bill will lead to increased government spending. The exact amount is not specified, but it covers the cost of the Secretary of State carrying out the functions under this Act and any increases in payments resulting from equalizing pension calculations.

Groups Affected

The bill primarily affects:

• Widows and civil partners of deceased armed forces personnel: They will benefit from the potential equalization of their pensions, potentially receiving increased payments.
• The UK Treasury: Will experience increased expenditure to fund the changes to the pension system.
• The Ministry of Defence: Responsible for implementing the changes and developing the regulations.