§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Minister for the Civil Service how long his Department has been considering draft rules under the Local Government Superannuation Scheme Regulations 1974; how many staff are concerned; what is the cause of the delay; and how many representations he has had complaining of delay.
§ Mr. ShoreI have been asked to reply, as the ministerial responsibility under the Superannuation Act 1972 is mine.
The size and complexity of this scheme are such that the production of amendments to it calls for experience and skills, including legal qualifications, which have proved very difficult to find. Currently there are five administrators and two lawyers on this work; one legal and two administrative posts are vacant, and filling them continues to present considerable difficulty.
I have received representations on this matter from the local authority associations and the trade unions concerned, and recently met their representatives to discuss this very difficult problem.