SNP GOVERNMENT ACT TO SAVE PENSIONERS FROM OVERPAYMENT FIASCO

SNP GOVERNMENT ACT TO SAVE PENSIONERS FROM OVERPAYMENT FIASCO

UK GOVERNMENT MUST FOLLOW LEAD OF SNP AND PROTECT TEACHER AND NHS PENSIONS

The SNP’s Work & Pensions Spokesperson Mr John Mason MP has welcomed the news that where the Scottish Government have the powers to act on the pensions overpayment issue – in the Local Government, Police and Fire pensions schemes – Scottish Ministers will not remove pension overpayments, in stark contrast to the approach of the UK Government.

Mr Mason has welcomed this confirmation from Finance Secretary John Swinney that Scottish Local Authority, police and fire service pensioners will therefore not have their pension cut.

The Scottish Government has to seek consent from the UK Government to amend the pensions regulations for the Teachers and Scottish NHS schemes. However, the Treasury has refused consent for this solution to be applied to the 6000 affected retired teachers and NHS employees in Scotland, who will instead have their overpayment removed - as will retired members of the armed forces, judiciary and civil service.

SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson John Mason MP, who yesterday called for early clarification from the UK Government, said;

“The SNP Government has acted quickly to clarify the situation for those affected, and Scottish Ministers have done everything in their powers to protect the position of pensioners in Scotland. What a contrast with the situation at Westminster, where the UK Labour Government are actually cutting people’s pension.

“Public sector pensioners have received their pensions in good faith, and allowing them to keep that money is the right thing to do.

“I share John Swinney’s frustration that Treasury constraints mean the Scottish Government is unable to extend the same approach to those pensioners affected in the NHS and Teachers schemes – and we will be pursuing this issue with the Treasury at Westminster.

“In Scotland, this means local authority, police and fire service workers affected will see their pension protected. But thousands of teachers and nurses will lose out because of the actions of the UK Labour Government, alongside their counterparts in England, as will pensioners from the armed services, judiciary and civil service.

“The Scottish Government’s decision to freeze any overpayment is very positive. It is surely right that those who have served our society as police, firemen, nurses and teachers or in the armed forces do not see their planned pension payments cut as a result of bureaucratic failures they are not responsible for.

“The Treasury should look to the Scottish Government’s decision to protect people’s pensions as the decent and honourable way to treat pensioners who have planned their lives on this income – especially at a time when the economy is tight.

“The Treasury has been asked by the SNP Government to adopt this approach for teachers and NHS pensioners in Scotland, and has refused. It’s time for common sense to prevail. No pensioner should have to suffer for this bureaucratic bungle.

“The Scottish Government has done the right thing - the Treasury must reconsider.”