§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to enable a pension to be paid under the local government pension scheme to one nominated financial dependant where there is no spouse; and if he will make a statement. [140913]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe Government's White Paper "Partnership in Pensions" in December 1998 explained that if the general membership of a public service scheme such as the Local Government Pension Scheme wanted in future to provide survivor benefits for partners other than a legal spouse, and were prepared to meet the additional costs, we would consider how this might be achieved. My Department is currently liaising with the Employers' Organisation and the Trade Union representatives, who are working up joint proposals, about how an amendment to the scheme might be introduced which will not adversely impact on local authority employers' pension costs.