§ Mr. MacGregorTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what would be the cost of indexing pensions paid to civil servants on early retirement under the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme from the ages of 50 to 55 years. [14424]
§ Dr. David ClarkCivil Service pensions, along with those paid to other public service pensioners, are increased in accordance with the provisions of the Pensions Increase Acts. Any change for the Civil Service scheme would have repercussions for other public service schemes; in very broad terms and additional cost of indexing all public service pensions from the ages of 50 to 55 years is likely to be at least £50 million a year. The cost for the Civil Service scheme alone would be some £2½ million. The government have no plans to change the current arrangements.