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Consultations
This section outlines any proposed changes to the Police Pension Scheme (PPS). New Police Pension Scheme (NPPS) or the Police (Injury Benefits) Regulations in relation to Scotland.
Current
Consultation papers were issued on 31 December 2009 which included a draft of the Police (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2010.
One of the proposals, concerning an amendment to regulation B1 and covered in the attached draft under Schedule 3, we are working to have in force no later than 28 March 2010. This has required a shorter consultation period than normal.
The consultation period ends on 19 January 2010.
A copy of the consultation documents can be accessed via the links below:
Police (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (pdf 35.3kb)
You can e-mail us at: dorothy.hamilton@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or jenny.coltman@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
You can write to us at:
Policy Branch
Scottish Public Pensions Agency
7 Tweedside Park
Tweedbank
Galashiels TD1 3TE
Previous Consultations
For information details are provided below regarding consultations that have been undertaken. These consultations are now closed and the resultant changes introduced to police pension legislation in Scotland are outlined in police circulars available from the link at the top of the page.
Police Pension Scheme Amendment (Increased Pension Entitlement)(Scotland) Regulations 2009
Consultation period 18 December 2008 - 12 February 2009.
Consultation papers were issued on 18 December 2008 which included the final draft of the Police Pension Scheme Amendment (Increased Pension Entitlement)(Scotland) Regulations 2009. The consultation period ended on 12 February 2009.
Police Pension Scheme Amendment (Increased Pension Entitlement)(Scotland) Regulations 2009. (48 Kb)
PROPOSED REFORM OF THE POLICE INJURY BENEFITS SYSTEM
At the England and Wales Police Federation conference in May, the Home Secretary announced her intention to launch a consultation exercise on the review of the police injury awards scheme this summer. Following discussions with Scottish Ministers it was agreed that the most practical approach would be to undertake this consultation on a UK wide basis. The consultation was launched on 25 August.
The main objective of this review of police injury awards is to ensure there is a system that is appropriate to the needs of modern policing and recognises the demanding and often dangerous roles that officers carry out so that help can be effectively targeted where most needed.
It is important to note that these proposals will affect officers serving at the time of implementation, whether or not they have already sustained an injury. The changes will not affect officers who have already retired at the point the changes are implemented. They will still be dealt with under the system as it currently stands, even if they have not yet applied for an award.
Key proposals
They include:
- The introduction, as announced by the Home Secretary at the above conference, of life-long adult survivor benefits and the extension of survivor benefits to nominated unmarried and unregistered partners in cases where an officer dies in the line of duty. At present survivor benefits for death in the line of duty are restricted to bereaved spouses and civil partners and are stopped on remarriage or cohabitation.
- Simplifying injury and survivor awards so they are easier to understand and apply. For instance, if an officer dies or is totally disabled within one year of an injury in the line of duty, financial support will as a matter of course receive five times their pensionable salary. Currently financial support is based on four times the officer’s actual total salary if that works out to be a lesser amount.
- Making injury and death payments fairer. The pensionable salary on which lump sum awards are based will be changed so that it is based on average pensionable pay. This will take account of a person’s working hours averaged over his or her police career rather than simply the pensionable pay at the time the officer ceased to serve. This should make the system fairer for officers who have not worked full-time throughout their career or have reduced their hours shortly before the injury.
- Revising the eligibility criteria and clarifying the definition for injuries received in the line of duty. This clarification will mean officers will be specifically covered for injury benefits as a result of a terrorist attack and will focus benefits on those injuries received in the line of duty. Proposals will also include withdrawing cover for injury or death sustained on a journey to or from work where the cause was not related to police duty - to bring injury benefits for the police service in line with injury benefits for other public servants.
- Clearer definition of eligibility to apply for injury awards.
- In order to make a clearer link with police duty proposals include introducing a 5-year time limit for new post-retirement claims, except in the case of specified progressive illnesses and specified conditions with a long incubation period.
- Introducing an absolute cut-off for new claims at age 65 or State Pension Age at the time if over 65.
- Replacing injury pension reviews at age 65 (or the State Pension Age at the time if over 65) by introducing a new minimum retirement income guarantee. Previously officers injured early in their career could have suffered a large reduction in financial support in their retirement if the review took them to the lowest pay banding. The new income guarantee will protect them from this.
- No longer paying injury pensions in cases where a former officer has suffered only a very slight loss of earning capacity as a result of the injury. In cases where the loss of earning capacity is 10% or less the former officer will receive a lump sum payment in recognition of the injury. This will allow benefits to be targeted where they are needed most.
- A full copy of the consultation document can be obtained using the following link www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/haveyoursay/current-consultations, In line with Cabinet Office recommendations that public consultations should last no less than 12 weeks, the closing date for comment is 18th November 2008.
You can email us at: PoliceInjuryAwards@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
A consultation letter and draft Police Pensions (Amendment)(Scotland) Regulations 2008 was issued on 30 June 2008.
The principal reason for the amendments is to provide pension scheme cover to specified members of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and introduce formally the revised compulsory retirement ages introduced from 1 October 2006.
Consultation documents can be accessed below.
Consultation covering letter (142Kb)
Draft Police Pensions (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 (81.7Kb)
The consultation period ends on Monday, 11 August 2008.
A consultation paper on the New Police Pension Scheme Regulations for Scotland 2006 was issued on 9th November 2006.
The consultation documents can be accessed below
Consultation on NPPS Regs covering letter (pdf 58KB)
Draft Scottish Statutory Instrument (pdf 505Kb)
The consultation period ended on 7 December 2006
A consultation paper setting out proposals for the New Police Pension Scheme was circulated on 25 July 2005.
To view this in more detail visit the Police Scheme Reforms page on the Pension Reforms area of this website.
The consultation period ended on 14 October 2005.
Proposed amendment to the Police Pension Regulations 1987
Consultation Period 10th June 2005 - 22nd July 2005
Consultation papers were circulated on 10 June 2005 to amend the police Pensions Regulations 1987 with a view to make the scheme more equitable to part-time members. The consultation period ended on 22 July 2005.
The consultation documents can be accessed below:
Draft Scottish Statutory Instrument (pdf 94Kb)
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
A consultation paper was circulated on 5 October 2004 to amend the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 with a view to bringinging the Police Service further within the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
The consultation document can be accessed below:
Consultation Letter (pdf 42Kb)