§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further changes there have been in the rules relating to abatement of public servants' pensions since 11 July 1991; and what proposals she has to provide a procedure for the consideration of abatement as regards those in receipt of early retirement pensions under the local government superannuation and teachers' superannuation scheme who are re-employed in(a) the same branch of the public service and (b) any other branch of the public service.
§ Mr. PortilloThere has been no change in the Government's policy relating to the abatement of public service pensions since the then Economic Secretary's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Mr. Wood) of 21 December 1989, column370 and the Minister for State's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell) of 11 July 1991, column 425. Since then, the rules of the various public service pension schemes to which the policy applies will have been amended as necessary to give effect to it.
The policy remains that those in receipt of an early retirement pension from a public service scheme who are re-employed in the same public service may have their pensions abated. Those who are re-employed in a different public service can be subject to abatement of either their pay or pension if the criteria for appointment required earlier public service experience.
The detailed procedures for determining abatement are for the public services concerned.