The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond)
I am pleased to lay before Parliament today a report. It sets out the likely effect of section 10 of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 on members of the defence fire and rescue service and the Ministry of Defence police.
The report has considered the effects—as far as they are known—on health and well-being, operational capability and the likelihood of early retirement in consequence of section 10.
I am clear though that it provides a basis for further engagement with both Unite and Prospect on behalf of the defence fire and rescue service and the Defence Police Federation on behalf of the Ministry of Defence police. Recent meetings with representatives of both groups have resulted in agreement as to how that future engagement will be conducted. This will begin in the new year.
I know too that, at the Adjournment debate of 26 November 2013, Official Report, column 231, the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Anna Soubry) who is responsible for defence personnel, welfare and veterans agreed to meet my hon. Friend the Member for Argyll and Bute (Mr Reid) and the hon. Member for Telford (David Wright), the Defence Police Federation, Unite and Prospect in the new year. Action is in hand to make those arrangements.