PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
PENSIONS FOR CIVIL SERVICE WIDOWS (4 July 2005)

That this House notes the ongoing campaign by the Civil Service Pensioners' Alliance to rectify the clear disparity between the classic Civil Service scheme provision and the improved provision available to newer pensioners through the premium scheme; is concerned that the classic scheme does not allows 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 excludes some widows and widowers already on low incomes from the protections now deemed adequate and necessary for new scheme members and their spouses; urges the Government to widen the remit of its consultations on public sector pensions to include this important problem; and calls on the Government to protect the rights of pensioners in public sector pension schemes and to ensure that the oldest and most vulnerable scheme members and their spouses are guaranteed a financially secure retirement.

Sponsored by:
Mr Clive Betts (Labour)