PUBLIC SERVICE PENSION POLICY

Early day motion 1582, tabled 21 July 1998 by Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston (Labour). Signed by 132 members.

That this House welcomes the publication of the Government's draft Pensions Sharing on Divorce Bill designed to end women's pension inequality, but notes that inequality and discrimination remain in other areas of the United Kingdom pensions system, particularly discriminating against unmarried partners of members of statutory public service schemes such as those for the police, fire service, health workers and teachers, leading to unjust, unfair discriminatory practice which is out of touch with the best practice as highlighted by evidence from the NAPF, which also shows that increasing numbers of private sector occupational pension schemes are making changes, by denying common law and gay and lesbian partners of public service scheme members a survivor's pension, forcing many into financial hardship following their partner's death despite paying the same level of contributions as married scheme members; therefore believes the time is now right for a legal change to require all such schemes to pay partner's pensions regardless of marital status or sexual orientation; and calls on the Secretary of State to rectify this anomaly.

Signatures by party: Labour 119, Labour/Co-operative 8, Liberal Democrat 4, Scottish National Party 1.