§ Mr. David Priceasked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps the present Government have taken since they have been in office to improve the position of the public service pensioner.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerWe have made substantial improvements both for those who were pensioners when we took office and for those now retiring.
In the first instance, the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 provides for annual reviews of public service pensions and the payment of increases to compensate for rises in the cost of living. These arrangements, which also apply to preserved benefits, ensure that the purchasing power of public service pensions is fully protected from the effects of inflation.
Secondly, following a comprehensive review, this Government introduced a new Civil Service Pension Scheme in June 1972. The great majority of civil servants are now covered by the new scheme which includes amongst its major improvements the reduction of the qualifying period for a pension from 10 to five years, benefits calculated on pay in the best of the last three years rather than the average of the last three years of service, service reckoned to the nearest day rather than completed years, improved benefits for retirement on ill health, injury or redundancy and improved family benefits. There are also greatly extended facilities for staff who leave before retiring age to preserve their accrued benefits or to transfer them to other pension schemes, in- 50W cluding schemes in the private sector. The other public services have also amended or are in the process of amending their superannuation schemes to provide for similar improvements.
§ Mr. David Priceasked the Minister for the Civil Service how many retired public servants have been in receipt of a public service pension in each year since 1960.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe estimated numbers are as follows:
Public Service Pensions in Payment Year Retired Public Servants Widows and Dependants (Thousands) (Thousands) 1960 405 60 1961 420 65 1962 430 70 1963 450 75 1964 465 85 1965 485 90 1966 500 95 1967 515 105 1968 530 110 1969 550 115 1970 560 125 1971 575 130 1972 590 140 1973 625 145
§ Mr. David Priceasked the Minister for the Civil Service how many retired public servants are currently in receipt of a public service pension; and how they are distributed by age, sex and former service.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe total number of retired public servants in receipt of a 51W public service pension is estimated to be 625,000. The estimated numbers distributed
PUBLIC SERVICE PENSIONS IN PAYMENT 1973 (000's) Retired Public Servants Age Widows and Dependants Total Former Service Under 60 60–69 70 and over Total Civil Service: Men … … … … … 5 74 80 159 64 Women … … … … … 2 19 15 36 Teaching Men … … … … … 1 19 18 38 4 Women … … … … … 3 44 55 102 National Health Service Men … … … … … n.a. 27* 17 44 18 Women … … … … … n.a. 34* 15 49 Local Government: Total (distribution by sex not available) 7 60 73 140 32 Police and Fire: Total (distribution by sex not available) 20 22 13 55 26 Other … … … … … … n.a. n.a. n.a. 2 1 Totals … … … … … — — — 625 145 * Includes under 60's. n.a.: Not available.