Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking with the Armed Forces Pay Review Body to minimise the requirement for back pay for service personnel when pension calculations are made.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) aims to put Armed Forces pensions into payment as quickly as possible so as not to cause undue delay and stress, and every individual's pension entitlement is considered with the utmost diligence.

We recognise the impact on pension calculations of the late announcement of annual pay awards and are committed to reducing the delay. We announced both the 2025 pay award and 2026/27 pay round two months earlier than last year and remain committed to bringing forward pay announcements further.

Defence officials are working with the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body on this year’s pay round and the submission of their 2026 report. We will publish this report and the Government’s response to their recommendations as soon as practicable in 2026, recognising the importance of giving certainty on pay settlements as early as possible.

This Government is committed to the independent Pay Review Body process and is focused on delivering fair and timely rewards for public sector workforces, including the Armed Forces, getting well-deserved pay rises to those delivering our vital public services.