Pensions For Civil Service Widows And Widowers

EDM number 552 in 2004-05, proposed by Clive Betts on 19/01/2005.

That this House notes the deep concern expressed by pensioner organisations representing members of public sector schemes, at the treatment of the oldest and most vulnerable scheme members; agrees with the Civil Service Pensioners' Alliance that, in the Civil Service Pension Scheme, there is a clear disparity between 'classic' scheme provision and the improved provision available to newer pensioners; is concerned that the 'classic' scheme does not allow a pension for life for scheme members' widows and provides little or no income for widows of post-retirement marriages; acknowledges that this pension scheme now consists of a two-tier system that unfairly exludes some widows and widowers already on low incomes from the protections now deemed adequate and necessary for new scheme members and their spouses; further notes that the Government has published consultations on the future of other public sector pension schemes; and calls on the Government to protect the rights of pensioners in public sector pension schemes and to ensure that the oldest scheme members and their spouses are guaranteed a financially secure retirement.

This motion has been signed by a total of 135 MPs.