§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service what improvements 639W have been made to the pension entitlements since 1964 of the grade of civil servant who was then receiving a salary similar to that of an hon. Member.
§ Mr. Charles R. Morris:No major changes were made in Civil Service pension arrangements between 1964 and 1971. In 1972, following a review by the Official and Staff Sides of the National Whitley Council, a new pension scheme was introduced. This new scheme abolished the previous distinction that had been made between established and un-established staff for pension purposes and reduced the qualifying service for pension benefits from 10 years to 5 years. Other improvements included a change in the basis of calculating pensionable pay ; wider provisions for the transfer or preservation of accrued rights: better ill-health and premature retirement terms ; higher widows' and children's pensions ; and a facility for the purchase of added years of reckonable service. Post-retirement pensions increase arrangements were improved by the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971.