Row over Scottish pension funding
18 August 2008
The government has been accused by the Scottish National Party of not helping Scotland enough with funding for police force pensions, according to a report.
Changes in pension funding throughout the UK will apparently enable police officers, firefighters and rescue workers to take more of their pension as a lump cash payment, the BBC reported.
SNP member of Scottish parliament Brian Adam claimed that while England and Wales will receive more funding, Scotland will not. Labour have apparently told the SNP to shoulder the cost itself, accusing the party of "failing to face" its responsibilities, according to the BBC.
Brian Adam told the BBC: "The Treasury's refusal to provide Scotland with the funds to implement the new pension scheme for the police and fire and rescue services is bewildering."
The police claim that the changes could increase the lump sum given to a retiring police constable by as much as £20,000, but the changes will not apply in Scotland.
According to the BBC, a spokesman said the issue was still under discussion between the UK and Scottish governments.
Scottish Widow's UK Pensions Report claims that the amount of people saving adequately for retirement has risen from 49 per cent to 51 per cent this year, according to The Mature Market.
