Police and Justice Bill

moved Amendment No. 51: After Schedule 2, insert the following new schedule- ““POWER TO MERGE POLICE PENSION SCHEMES Introduction 1 In this Schedule- ““the 1976 Act”” means the Police Pensions Act 1976; ““1976 Act scheme”” means a pension scheme established by regulations under section 1 of the 1976 Act (pensions for police in Great Britain); ““the 1998 Act”” means the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998; ““1998 Act scheme”” means a pension scheme established by regulations under section 25(2)(k) of the 1998 Act (pensions for members of Police Service of Northern Ireland) or section 26(2)(g) of that Act (pensions for members of Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve); ““police pension scheme”” means a 1976 Act scheme or a 1998 Act scheme; ““police pensions regulations”” means- (a) regulations under section 1 of the 1976 Act; (b) regulations under section 25(2)(k) or 26(2)(g) of the 1998 Act. Power to merge police pension schemes 2 (1) Regulations may- (a) revoke those provisions of the police pensions regulations that apply to persons who became members of a police pension scheme before 6th April 2006, and (b) make equivalent provision establishing a single pension scheme for the benefit of those persons. (2) In sub-paragraph (1)(b) ““equivalent provision”” means, subject to sub-paragraph (3), provision having the same effect as the provisions revoked. (3) The regulations may make changes to the effect of the provisions revoked if the changes- (a) are made as a result of consolidating the provisions of the different police pensions regulations into a single pension scheme, and (b) do not make the scheme less beneficial to any member of it than the police pension scheme of which he was previously a member. Exercise of power to establish merged scheme 3 (1) This paragraph applies to the first regulations under this Schedule. (2) The power to make the regulations is exercisable by the Secretary of State with the consent of the Treasury. (3) Before exercising the power the Secretary of State shall consult with the Police Negotiating Board for the United Kingdom. (4) The regulations may be framed so as to have effect as from a date before the making of the regulations. Exercise of power to amend merged scheme 4 (1) The power to make amending regulations is exercisable as if- (a) any provision of the 1976 Act applying to regulations under section 1 of that Act, (b) any provision of Northern Ireland legislation applying to regulations under section 25(2)(k) of the 1998 Act, and (c) any provision of Northern Ireland legislation applying to regulations under section 26(2)(g) of that Act, applied also to the amending regulations. (2) In this paragraph ““amending regulations”” means regulations amending regulations previously made under this Schedule. Application of provisions of other Acts 5 (1) The provisions of- (a) section 8A of the 1976 Act (information in connection with police pensions etc), (b) section 9 of that Act (assignment etc of pension to be void), and (c) section 10 of that Act (obtaining pension by self-inflicted injury etc), apply to regulations under this Schedule, so far as relating to persons who are former members of a 1976 Act Scheme, as they apply to regulations under section 1 of the 1976 Act. (2) The Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 has effect as if a reference in paragraph 15 or 43 of Schedule 2 to a pension payable under the Police Pensions Act 1976 included a reference to a pension payable under regulations under this Schedule to a person who is a former member of a 1976 Act Scheme. Transitional provision 6 A reference, however expressed, in any document (including an enactment) to- (a) regulations under section 1 of the 1976 Act, (b) regulations under section 25(2)(k) of the 1998 Act, or (c) regulations under section 26(2)(g) of that Act, is to be read, where the context allows, as including a reference to regulations under this Schedule. Continuity of schemes for tax purposes 7 A pension scheme established under this Schedule is to be regarded for the purposes of Part 4 of the Finance Act 2004 (taxation of pension schemes etc) as a continuation of each police pension scheme that it replaces, and not as a different scheme.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, the Finance Act 2004 brought in new rules relating to pension benefits and to formally register pension schemes. At the same time, new police pension schemes were opened and the existing police pension scheme for the police in Great Britain and the almost identical scheme for members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland were closed to new entrants. These changes do not affect officers who are members of the old scheme transferring from one police force to another within Great Britain, but police officers transferring permanently between Northern Ireland and Great Britain in either direction would be obliged to join the new pension scheme on transfer. The Government are keen for officers to join the new scheme and are giving all serving officers across the United Kingdom the opportunity to do so during a comprehensive options exercise. It was not our intention to compel police officers to do so on transferring between home department forces within the United Kingdom. These amendments would give the Secretary of State the power to merge the old pension schemes, thus removing this unintended consequence of the recent changes in pensions policy. The merging of the schemes will bring no disadvantage to officers and is essentially an administrative measure designed to facilitate the transfer of police officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland to forces in Great Britain and vice versa. Such transfers are particularly important for the Police Service of Northern Ireland so that it can draw on the skills and experience of senior officers from other Great British forces. This move is widely supported by the police, including the Police Federation, the Police Negotiating Board and the Policing Board for Northern Ireland. I understand that this is a riveting subject for most Members of your Lordships’ House. With that comment and observation, I beg to move.