asked the Minister for Defence the amount paid in gratuities to members of the Defence Forces who (i) resigned, (ii) retired and (iii) others; the number of persons involved; if gratuities are paid to all members who leave; and how this compares with extension of service payments which are paid by his Department.
Written Answers. - Defence Force Gratuities.
133.
Non-Commissioned Officers' and Privates' Gratuities.
1. Under the terms of the Defence Forces (Pensions) Schemes a gratuity is payable to:
"a short service soldier" whose minimum qualifying service is three years. The rates payable are:
|
Retiring Rank |
Rate for each year of qualifying service where the total qualifying service is less than 7 years |
Rate for each year of qualifying service where the total qualifying service is not less than 7 years but is less than 13 years |
Rate for each year of qualifying service where the total qualifying service is not less than 13 years but is less than 21 years |
|
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
|
Private |
£44.76 |
£89.52 |
£134.28 |
|
Corporal or Sergeant |
£54.41 |
£108.82 |
£163.23 |
|
Company Quartermaster-Sergeant to Sergeant-Major |
£64.28 |
£128.56 |
£192.84 |
"a long service soldier" i.e. a soldier who is specially re-engaged for such further period of service in the Forces as will when added to the period already served by him in the Permanent Defence Force before such re-engagement make a total period of 21 years or more, in the Permanent Defence Force.
Gratuities to long service soldiers are calculated by taking a week's pay at the date of retirement and multiplying it by the number of years service.
A gratuity is not payable under the scheme to any soldier if—
(a) being a short-service soldier he is discharged or transferred to the Reserve on compassionate ground prior to the termination of his Army service.
(b) he is discharged as a result of his conviction by a Court Martial or a civil court, or
(c) he is discharged as of "bad" character, or
(d) being a short service soldier he is discharged by purchase.
(e) he is discharged for general misconduct.
2. The number of short service soldiers discharged in 1980 who received gratuities was 821. The number of long service soldiers totalled 237.
Officers' Gratuities:
3. A flat rate gratuity of approximately 80 per cent of a year's pay is payable to an officer who retires voluntarily after 20 years' service (in addition to retired pay).
Flat rate gratuities of lesser amounts are payable to officers retiring voluntarily with 12 years or more service and less than 20 years (in addition to retired pay).
Where an officer retires within five years of the age limit prescribed for his rank the gratuity is pay-related; the maximum gratuity, equal to 1½ years' pay, is payable to an officer retiring on age grounds or within 2 years of the retiring age for his rank (in addition to retired pay). A short service gratuity (20 days' pay for each year of service) is payable to an officer who retires voluntarily and whose pensionable service is five years or more but less than 12 years.
A minimum gratuity of one year's pay is payable in the case of an officer who dies in service.
Seventy-one officers who retired in 1980 were paid gratuities.
Gratuities for extension of service:
4. (1) The following gratuities are payable to a non-commissioned officer or private who is permitted to extend his current period of Army service (three years):
(a) to complete 6/7 years from date of original enlistment £300 (£400 Naval Service).
(b) to complete 9 years from date of original enlistment £150.
(c) to complete 12 years from date of original enlistment £120.
Where the original period of service was 6 years and that period of service is extended the following gratuities are payable:
(a) service extended to 9 years £450.
(b) service extended to 12 years £120.
Extension of service payments do not apply to commissioned officers.