The UK and Singapore enjoy a close Defence relationship. It is centered on the UK's active engagement in the region, most notably through its membership of the long-standing Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand are the other FPDA member nations.

Defence Section works closely with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and MINDEF on all aspects of bilateral Defence business. This can involve Defence and Security Policy issues, the provision of military advice, organising and supporting military visits to Singapore and the UK, securing diplomatic clearances for visiting UK military aircraft and ships, facilitating mutual military training, support to bilateral military exercises and, of course, FPDA activities and military exercises. The Defence Section also organises the annual Remembrance Service at Kranji War Cemetery in November.

The Defence Adviser, a Royal Air Force Group Captain, heads the Defence Section in the High Commission.  He is assisted by a Royal Navy Commander and 2 civilians, a retired Army Warrant Officer and a UK Based Civil Servant.  The Royal Navy Commander is also the Royal Navy Liaison Officer (RNLO).

Independent of the Defence Adviser are MoD personnel from the Defence Geographic Centre, Defence Fuels Group and the Royal Navy, a 3 man detachment under the RNLO.  The RNLO maintains berths at Sembawang for the use of visiting Royal Navy ships. Two loan service officers are attached to the Gurkha Contingent Singapore Police Force (GCSPF).

In July 2008 the Pension Payment Office in the British High Commission was closed and pension payments were transferred to the UK. This office, formerly under the Defence Adviser, was responsible for making payments to locally entitled civilians in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Hong Kong who served in the British Armed Forces. These locally employed civilians were either Military or Civil Service.

British Military Pension

The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) are responsible for the payment of these pensions. Pensioners who have an enquiry must now contact:

SPVA (Singapore Pensions)
Mail Point 480
65 Brown Street
Kentigern House
Glasgow
G11 6AY
United Kingdom

An SPVA telephone help line is also available between the hours of 0700 and 1900 (UK Time). The phone number is +44 (0)1412243600 and callers should choose option 1. Callers should also let the help line agent know that they are ringing from (Name of Country) and should quote their Service Number and (if known) their local Singapore reference number.

All service pensions are paid 1 month in arrears; your pension is paid by SPVA in time for the payment to be in your banking account by the first working day of the month.

Civil Service Pension

The responsibility for the payment of these pensions now resides with Capita Hartshead who will be making payments on behalf of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. Pensioners who have an enquiry must now contact:

Capita Hartshead
Civil Service Pensions
PO Box 215
Mowden Hall
Darlington
DL3 9GT

If you have any queries about your pension, please write to Capita Hartshead at the address provided or telephone +44 (0)1325745790 or email OverseasPensions@capita.co.uk.

Capita Hartshead will issue your pension on the last working day of each month in pounds sterling and then convert this to local currency for onward transfer to your bank account. Your pension may fluctuate on a monthly basis due to the value of the currencies and the exchange rate used at the time of transfer. You should be aware that payments to overseas accounts which are paid in local currency may take up to 6 working days from your normal payment date to reach your overseas account.