TNAG-1143-FCO40-1423-Hong-Kong-and-the-Falkland-Islands-crisis-1982 — Page 93

ANNEX B

MERCHANT SEAMEN'S WIDOWS PENSIONS AND GRATUITIES

1.

Unger & National Mandeon.

a

Board (I) agreement (the MMB

is the negotiating bocy for the industry) employers undertake to pay a lump sum to the depenuents of those who die as a result of warlike operations. The lump sums payable are £43,000 for the dependant of an officer; £35,000 for the dependant of a petty officer; and £26,000 for the dependant of a rating or cadet. The widow of a merchant seaman is also, of course, eligible for the appropriate benefits from her husband's occupational pension scheme.

Agreement has been reached with

the General Council of British Shipping

to allow payment of both

the NMB lump sum and the DHSS war widow's pension together. The cost of paying the lump sums would, of course, fall to the Ministry of Defence.

2. On the face of it the larger lump sums available to merchant seamen's widows appear to favour them as against Service widows. The pensions benefits paid to the widows of merchant seamen under their husbands' occupational pension schemes are, however, in many cases inferior to those paid to the widows of servicemen under the Armed Forces Pensions Scheme; and if the total benefits of each were brought to a present capital value, the Service widow would be seen not to be disadvantaged.

3.

Merchant seamen serving in Royal Fleet Auxiliaries (RFAS) are in a special position in that they are members of the

1