HC Deb 29 March 2004 vol 419 c1268W
Mr. Todd

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 9 March 2004,Official Report, column 144W, on the Local Government Pension Scheme, whether revisions to the Local Government Pension Scheme will facilitate early retirement being used as a mechanism to facilitate reorganisation. [163958]

Phil Hope

The proposed revisions to the Local Government Pension Scheme do not remove the capacity of local authority employers to make their own business decisions about early retirements when reorganisations occur. In doing so, they will need to take into account any resultant pension costs as exemplified by the appropriate pension fund authority, while at the same time ensuring their actions do not discriminate against older workers.

Kevin Brennan

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will issue guidance and advice to local authorities on changes in the rules on part-time employees in the Local Government Pension Scheme. [164279]

Phil Hope

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury on 8 March 2004,Official Report, column 1224W. The Local Government Pensions Committee of the Employers' Organisation for Local Government have now issued the further guidance referred to in that answer. Their Circular 152, dated March 2004, is available on their website at: http://www.lg-employers.gov.uk/documents/pensions/ 152march04.doc