§ Mr. Derek FosterTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on discussions held between his Department and that of the Paymaster General regarding the impact of the prior options review of Paymaster on the administration and payment of civil service pensions. [19055]
§ Mr. FreemanMy right hon. Friend the Paymaster General announced on 4 December 1995 the start of a prior options review of the Paymaster agency, with a focus on options for moving the agency into the private sector.
112WThe agency provides pensioner payroll and associated services for the civil service pension scheme. A market test of these services had been announced earlier by my Department. Discussions taking place between the Departments concerned are directed at securing early savings for my Department without prejudice to any future move of the agency into the private sector.