§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the cost and practicality of enabling SERPS rights to he split at the point of divorce; and if he will make a statement. [8159]
§ Mr. HealdNo detailed assessment has been made on the costs of splitting SERPS pension rights. Costs would depend on the specific requirements for splitting. There are also a number of difficulties which would have to be overcome before splitting of SERPS could be considered feasible, but it is clear that it would complicate administration. The Pensions Management Institute, in its report "Pensions and Divorce", acknowledged that there are real problems involved in the splitting of SERPS.