asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that widows of Old IRA pensioners and widows of Army officers have not yet received an increase in pensions and if he will ensure that increases will be paid without delay.
Written Answers. - Army Pensions.
414.
Allowances payable to the widows of military service pensioners are increased annually from 1 July each year in line with the level of increases granted to public service pensioners generally. An interim increase of 5.5 per cent has been granted to these widows from 1 July 1979 and has been paid. Further amounts, sufficient to bring the total increase from 1 July 1979 up to 21.8 per cent, will be paid shortly.
The pensions of widows of Army officers, and other ranks, paid under the contributory widows and orphans schemes are reviewed on 1 July each year to bring them into line with pay increases granted to serving personnel in the proceeding 12 months. These widows have been granted from July 1979 an increase of the order of 10 per cent with effect from 1978 and this, together with substantial arrears, has been paid. They are due a further 9 per cent also payable from 1 July 1979 and this will be paid as soon as the necessary Defence Force (Pensions) Scheme has been made.