News releases
Independent Public Service Pensions Commission Interim Report
A Note to Members
You will have seen press comment about Lord Hutton's Interim Report. In particular, you will have read and heard in press and radio broadcasts, particularly the Today programme, that Lord Hutton has described the Services' schemes as ‘non contributory’. I know you do not share that view, having in mind the historical and current path of the Abatement Rate. But neither is the Abatement Rate the same as a simple pension contribution so your Society must be accurate and cautious in its public statements.
I refer members to the November 2008 issue of Pennant which describes in simple terms a far from simple process.
We, your staff in Vauxhall, sense that we have an ally and friend in Lord Hutton and another in the Chairman of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, and we need to keep our words and judgements in tune with others if we are to retain influence for the further stages of the IPSPC work and beyond. We also need to ensure that we do not break ranks with the representatives of the other public services.
For some members this will be the first news about the change in indexation. We have been actively engaged in this and informed you in our newsletters and website, but the November Pennant will give you further details, and in order that you may help our lobbying, a simple facts sheet for you to send to your MP.
Be assured that your Society is losing no opportunity to defend your interests at this testing time. What success we will have depends very much on how valued the Armed Forces community really are by the present Government.
John Moore-Bick, General Secretary
