Police Pensions (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (SSI 2016/75)
We move straight on, as there is a long day ahead. Agenda item 4 is subordinate legislation. The committee will consider four negative instruments.
The Police Pensions (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2016 give a scheme member who has entered into a same-sex marriage equivalent survivor benefits to those that are available to scheme members in a civil partnership. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee agreed to draw the regulations to the attention of the Parliament for reasons that members already know. There was an error. The Government acknowledged that error and undertook to address it in a future amending instrument.
As members have no comments on the regulations, are they content to make no recommendation in relation to them?
Members indicated agreement.
Firefighters’ Compensation and Pension Schemes (Scotland) Amendment Order 2016 (SSI 2016/77)
The second instrument is the Firefighters’ Compensation and Pension Schemes (Scotland) Amendment Order 2016. The order amends the compensation scheme order to allow a person who is entitled to a pension or gratuity under that order to retain it following remarriage or the forming of a civil partnership. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee did not draw the order to the attention of the Parliament on any grounds within its remit.
Do members have any comments? The order is an excellent move, as it seems that there was an injustice. Are members content to make no recommendation in relation to it?
Members indicated agreement.
Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2016 (SSI 2016/78)
The third instrument is the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2016. The regulations make provision for new entitlements to shared parental pay. Again, the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee did not draw the regulations to the attention of the Parliament on any grounds within its remit.
Do members have any comments on the regulations? Again, the move seems very reasonable. Are members content to make no recommendation in relation to the regulations?
Members indicated agreement.
Firemen’s Pension Scheme (Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2016 (SSI 2016/79)
The fourth and final instrument is the Firemen’s Pension Scheme (Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2016. The order allows a person who is entitled to a pension under the Firemen’s Pension Scheme Order 1992 and also to a pension under the Firefighters’ Compensation Scheme (Scotland) Order 2006 to retain the former pension following remarriage or the forming of a civil partnership. Again, the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee did not draw the order to the attention of the Parliament on any grounds within its remit. Do members have any comments on the order?
I have a very brief comment. It is disappointing that, in 2016, we are still being very gender specific. We have heard comment on this before, but it is worth saying again that we should be using the word “firefighters”.
I think that that is simply a technical matter, because the previous order was the Firemen’s Pension Scheme Order 1992. Thereafter, “firefighters” are referred to. I think that it is simply a matter of our being unable to change existing legislation in that manner, but I take your point. I noticed that.
The fact that we now use the word “firefighters” instead of “firemen” shows the progress that has been made since 1992.
We have made progress. It is international women’s day, and your point has been made.
Apart from that, are members content to make no recommendation in relation to the order?
Members indicated agreement.
That concludes our consideration of our public business. We now move into private session.
11:44 Meeting continued in private until 12:04.