The principle of the military pension is that it is unfunded and the amount needed is set aside by what is called a “Prerogative Instrument”. It does not need the approval of, neither can it be annuled or amended by Parliament. The Prerogative Instrument for the RN and RM is an Order in Council under the Naval and Marine Pay and Pensions Act 1865, for the Army, it is the Army Pension Warrant 1977 and, for 'us', QRs. Of course, the terms of the principle may be varied and if it wasn't for the fighting in Afganistan and Iraq and the swell of public support for the troops, it would probably already have been fettled again by now.