PENSION ENTITLEMENT FOR MILITARY WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS

That this House expresses sympathy with the military widows and widowers forced to surrender their 1975 Armed Forces Pension Scheme entitlement when deciding to marry or cohabit with a new partner; acknowledges the enormous sacrifices made by military spouses on behalf of the UK, often raising a family single-handedly while a loved one serves overseas; believes it is cruel and unfair to make those who become widows and widowers to make a choice between having a new relationship and financial security; notes that the 2005 Armed Forces Pension Scheme does not require widows and widowers to sacrifice their entitlement if they find a new partner; further believes that the savings to the taxpayer made by widows and widowers sacrificing their pension entitlement is minimal and that in 2013 there were only 10 1975 Armed Forces Pension Scheme 75 widows payments voluntarily surrendered at an annual saving of £31,294; supports the Forces Pensions Society campaign, backed by the Royal British Legion, to abolish this unfair and unnecessary provision; and urges the Government to amend the 1975 Armed Forces Pension Scheme so that widows and widowers no longer have to sacrifice their entitlement when cohabiting or marrying a new partner.