§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the payment of death gratuities and dependants' benefits to beneficiaries under the European Parliament (United Kingdom Representatives) pension scheme.
§ Mr. PortilloParliamentary approval will be sought later this year in an order under the European Parliament (Pay and Pensions) Act 1979 to changes to the European Parliament (United Kingdom representatives) pension scheme. These changes will bring the scheme's provisions562W for death gratuities and dependants' benefits into line with those introduced for the parliamentary contributory pension fund by the Parliamentary Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 1991. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £700 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.