Overview

This bill aims to ensure equal treatment for widows' pensions within the armed forces, addressing discrepancies in pension calculations for those whose spouses retired before 1973 and between 1973 and 2005. It mandates the government to adjust pension payments to achieve parity.

Description

The Forces Widows’ Pensions (Equality of Treatment) Bill seeks to rectify inequalities in pension payments to widows of deceased armed forces personnel. Specifically, it directs the Secretary of State to create regulations within 12 months of the bill's passage. These regulations must ensure that pensions for widows of service members who retired before March 31, 1973, and those who retired between March 31, 1973, and April 6, 2005, are calculated and paid using the same method. The bill clarifies that pensions under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme Order 2005 remain unaffected. The Secretary of State has the power to make supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitory, transitional, or saving provisions as needed, including amending or repealing existing legislation or instruments.

Government Spending

The bill will necessitate additional government expenditure. Clause 3 states that Parliament will fund all sums paid by the Secretary of State for implementing the Act, as well as any increase in payments mandated by other Acts as a result of this bill. Specific figures are not provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Widows and civil partners of deceased armed forces personnel: Those whose spouses retired before 1973 and between 1973 and 2005 will potentially receive increased pension payments, bringing them in line with a more equitable system.
• UK Government: The government will bear the financial burden of increased pension payments.
• Parliament: Parliament will have the power to annul any regulations made under this act.

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