HL Deb 16 June 1997 vol 580 cc102-3WA
Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, when they appoint Commissioners to the European Commission, they are aware (a) what pensions and/or other benefits accrue to such Commissioners when they retire, (b) whether these benefits are paid direct from the European Communities' budget or from a separate fund set up for the purpose, or otherwise how they are paid, and (c) what enhancement to these benefits, if any, is granted to retiring Presidents of the European Commission; if they are so aware, whether they will reveal such information; and if not, whether they will ask the European Commission to do so.

Lord Simon of Highbury

The arrangements for the remuneration of Commissioners, including their pensions, are laid down in EC Regulations, and are therefore already publicly available in that form. Broadly, and subject to the specific provisions of the regulations, the position is as follows.

  1. (a) Commissioners qualify for pensions at age 65 at the rate of 4.5 per cent. of salary for each year of service, up to a maximum of 70 per cent. In addition, Commissioners who cease to hold office before age 65 may be eligible for a transitional allowance of between 40 and 65 per cent. of salary, depending on their length of service, payable for up to three years.
  2. (b) Benefits are paid from the budget.
  3. (c) There may be some enhancement of benefits, under weighting arrangements to maintain equivalent purchasing power with Belgium, if the recipient lives in a different country where the weighting is positive. Similarly, benefits would be reduced if the weighting were negative. These arrangements apply generally, not just to retiring Presidents.