PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
INDEXATION OF BENEFITS AND PENSIONS FOR ARMED SERVICE PERSONNEL (31 January 2011)

That this House recognises and honours the immense courage and patriotism shown by UK armed service personnel and their dependants; commits to providing them with the highest levels of support and reward; notes with concern the Government's proposed permanent switch to the consumer prices index from the retail prices index for the annual indexation of benefits and pensions since this represents a year-on-year reduction which will impact when the economy has returned to growth; further notes the cumulative financial loss this will cause service personnel and their dependants, including war widows and those serving in Afghanistan now; warns that a double amputee 28 year old corporal will lose 587,000 by the age of 70 and a 34 year old widow of a staff sergeant killed in Afghanistan will lose almost 750,000 over the course of her lifetime; and urges the Government to commit to making this switch temporary so that as soon as the fiscal climate allows and the deficit has been paid off armed forces personnel and their dependants receive the higher rate of pensions and benefits they deserve.

Sponsored by:
Nick Smith (Labour)