§ Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether the Civil Service Pay Research Unit is taking advice from independent bodies in its review of the cost of inflation-proofing Civil Service pensions; and how many representations he has received from outside bodies regarding the inadequacy of the present deduction from Civil Service pay for pension inflation-proofing.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on 29th March. The Pay Research Unit is not concerned with the cost of inflation-proofing Civil Service pensions. The 1974 Pay Agreement provides for the Official and Staff Sides to review the provision to take account of differences in pension benefits with outside analogues annually on advice from the Government Actuary. This agreement is at present suspended. In the short time available for this answer I have not been able to trace any representations to me from outside bodies about the figure for adjusting for differences in superannuation benefits included in the 1974 agreement.