Welcome to AFPG Limited
STATEMENT OF INTENT
Our aim is to secure pensions, or compensation in lieu,
for former regular members of the armed forces who served for fewer
than 22 years at any time from 1949 to April 1975 and who were
discharged before 5th April 1975. We ask Her Majesty's Government
for pension rights, or compensation, based on years of service and
related, pro rata, to pensions received by contempories who completed
22 years of service.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Armed Forces Pension Group is open to all
ex-servicemen and women who served for three years or more, but less
than 22 years, and were discharged prior to 5th April 1975. To apply,
forward your full name and address for receipt of a membership
application form.
In the mid 1990's, a group of 20 civil servants in Cheltenham who had served in the armed forces for fewer than 22 years decided the the government's policy not to acknowledge time served in the armed forces before 1975 for pension purposes was not only morally wrong but also wrong in law. Holly Richmond, a solicitor based in Keynsham, Bristol, shared that view and agreed to act as the group's legal advisor.
By 1999, the membership of the group had grown to comprise several hundred armed forces veterans nation-wide who felt aggrieved by their lack of pension rights.. The members subscribed equally to cover administration and legal costs. As word spread by word of mouth and media coverage, the group's numbers increased rapidly to more than 3,000 and membership was now world-wide. In 2003, it was the legal adviser's opinion that the time was right to challenge the Government in the High Court. The government vigorously defended the action but conceded that service pay before 1975 was adjusted downwards in comparison with notional civilian equivalents to cover benefits deemed to be enjoyed by armed forces personnel. The Government insisted then, and still maintains, that this abatement of service pay was not made specifically to account for pension rights but has not shown convincing evidence to support this position.
The Government argued that the AFPG was “out of time” and the High Court Judge upheld this but gave leave for the AFPG members to appeal if they wished to pursue their case. The AFPG decided to appeal but three High Court Judges ruled that there were no grounds for a hearing. Undeterred by these events, the AFPG members then took their appeal to the House of Lords but it was once more turned down. It was at this juncture, with a depleted membership of less than 2,000, that the legal advisor suggested that the group be reformed as a Company with Limited Liability. A vote taken at an Extraordinary General Meeting in February 2004 carried that motion. AFPG Ltd was established in June 2004 and directors were appointed. The Chairman of AFPG Ltd subsequently requested the former AFPG membership to provide relevant personal data to the new company.
The first priority for AFPG Ltd was to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights, pleading a right to be heard in the British High Court. It was a widely held belief that the government of the day would wish to avoid a defence of its position and would settle out of court. In particular, if the case had been defended in the High Court, the Crown would have had to produce evidence that the abatement of service pay was not made to cover pension benefits.
For actions and events following this, please refer to News Archive 2004, 2005 & 2006.
For 2007, check on Latest News.
