§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his proposed changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme. [168049]
§ Phil HopeDraft regulations designed to ensure that the Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales remains affordable to employers, members and taxpayers were circulated to interested parties for their comments on 31 March. Subject to the outcome of that consultation, the new provisions will come into force on 1 April 2005. The proposals reflect the policies set out in our June 2003 White Paper "Simplicity, security and choice; working and saving for retirement" (Cm 5835) and are part of a programme of changes to the scheme announced on 23 July 2003. Further measures to modernise the scheme and to ensure its sustainability for the longer term will be circulated later this year.