§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if provision has been made for the payment of improved death gratuities and dependants' benefits to beneficiaries under the European Parliament (United Kingdom representatives) pension scheme.
§ Mr. PortilloThe European Parliament (United Kingdom representatives) pension scheme—EP (UKR) PS—follows the parliamentary contributory pension fund—PCPF—in its provisions. The Parliamentary Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 1991 made changes to the death gratuities and dependants' benefits payable with effect from 2 April 1991 under the PCPF in respect of members who died on or after 6 April 1988. An order amending the provisions of the EP (UKR) PS will be made as soon as possible. Payment will, however, be made in the meantime to those who will be eligible to benefit from the new provisions.
Parliamentary approval will be sought later this year in an order under the European Parliament (Pay and Pensions) Act 1979. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £50,000 will be met from repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund. Once the order has been approved, the Contingencies Fund will be repaid upon approval of the Contingencies Fund repayment vote in 1993–94.