§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those sections of the RUC, Royal Ulster Constabulary reserve, Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Regiment that were since 1969 ineligible to join their appropriate public sector pension scheme and if he will list(a) the dates on which they became eligible, (b) what backdating was applied and (c) in each case which sections were (i) part-time and (ii) full-time; and what plans he has to review the position of those whose service has not been pensionable. [42084]
§ Sir John WheelerPension provision for the UDR and the RIR is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary.
The RUC full-time reserve was given access to the RUC pension scheme on 1 July 1994 and awarded full credit for service from 6 April 1988.
The RUC part-time reserve does not have access to the RUC pension scheme. However, in the light of a recent European Union directive, a review of the terms and conditions, including pensions, of part-time employees generally will be undertaken by the Northern Ireland Office.
Former members of the Ulster Special Constabulary who on 1 March 1969 had less than 10 years' continuous mobilised service or who had 10 or more years of such service but elected to retain their mobilised status, and 788W who were subsequently embodied in the RUC on 1 May 1970 as full-time "auxiliary constables", are entitled under the terms of the RUC Pensions Regulations 1988 to a gratuity rather than a pension. Their entitlement is under review at present.