§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he plans to change the civil service pension scheme to allow widows and widowers to retain their pension after remarrying; and if he will make a statement [29262]
§ Mr. LeslieThe civil service will be introducing new pension arrangements with effect from 1 October 2002. New entrants will be given a choice between a new final salary pension scheme and a stakeholder pension with an employer contribution. We are giving active of the current pension scheme an option to move into the new final salary scheme on 1 October if they wish. The new scheme, which has a higher employee contribution rate than the current scheme, will allow widows and widowers to retain their pension if they remarry. We have no plans to change the arrangements in the current scheme whereby widows and widowers will normally lose their pension entitlement should they remarry.