Detailed consultation paramount on pensions paper - 18 December 2002

Responding to the pensions Green Paper, the FDA today welcomed the government's proposals to end compulsory retirement ages but expressed strong concerns that any changes to the public sector pension age in the future should not affect existing pension scheme members. FDA pensions' officer John Merson said: "The current situation in which some departments force civil servants to retire when they reach 60, while in others staff can continue until 65 if they wish, is obviously unfair. We fully support moves to address these inequalities and will continue advocating a move towards a flexible decade of retirement from 55 to 65." "However, we are concerned by the proposed moves to raise the pension age for new recruits in public service schemes to 65. Certainly, any proposals must protect the position of existing staff. We note the assurances given that new arrangements will be developed in partnership with the Cabinet Office, but we are extremely concerned at suggestions within the Civil Service Pensions 'question and answer' document now circulating in departments, that unhelpful changes may be made to accrual rates for existing members of the pension scheme. The FDA would resist any such move. "The Green Paper raises a lot of issues and questions that will need in depth study and we expect this publication to be the start of a detailed process of consultation and negotiation with the Cabinet Office." Ends Notes for Editors 1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing the UK's 11,000 senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, crown prosecutors and NHS managers 2. For further information contact: - Simon Moore (chief press officer) on 020-7343-1111 or 07967 484441 (mobile)