Business of the House

Kirsten Oswald Excerpts
Thursday 14th July 2016

(8 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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This is one of the difficult challenges that we have faced as a Government over the past six years. Ever since we took office in 2010, the compensation schemes have been very much out of kilter with what would happen in the private sector. There comes a point when we have to say that we have a duty to the taxpayer to have a system that is balanced, appropriate and consistent with what people would face in other employment.

Kirsten Oswald Portrait Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) (SNP)
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I am sure the whole House agrees that the UK Government should support the families of service personnel who have died while serving, but a group of UK military widows are prevented from receiving pensions if they remarried before April last year. Will the Leader of the House agree to a debate in Government time on how we can close this illogical and deeply unjust loophole?

Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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This is an issue that the hon. Lady and other Members have raised before. I understand the point that she makes. I will make sure that the Defence Secretary is aware of the concerns that she has raised, and will ask him to write to her.