§ Mr. Terlezkiasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to allow civil servants who become self-employed to qualify for pension benefits other than class II allowance; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonI have been asked to reply.
There are no plans to change the present arrangements whereby an established civil servant who left the service would retain any pension rights under the principal Civil Service pension scheme acquired by virtue of his service. On becoming self-employed there would be liability for the payment of class II national insurance contributions which would continue to build up rights to the state basic retirement pension scheme.