Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his Department's policy to pay previously agreed uplifts to the service pensions of former service personnel who are no longer domiciled in the UK.

When a member of the Armed Forces reaches their retirement age they receive one of the most generous pensions available in the UK. This fairly reflects the unique sacrifice they have provided their country throughout their career. Armed Forces pensions are claimed and paid in the same way no matter where a veteran chooses to live and uprated in-line with the consumer price index (CPI). The CPI rate used is the CPI headline rate for the September prior to the April adjustment the following year as announced by the Treasury. This is in line with the statutory requirement set out in the Pensions Increase Act 1971 and Social Security Pensions Act 1975.