Schedules
Schedule 25 – Amendment of certain enactments relating to pensions
Paragraph 1 – Fire Services Act 1947 (c. 41)
909.Section 26 of the Fire Services Act 1947 gives the Secretary of State power, by order, to bring into operation a Firemen's Pension Scheme to provide for pensions, allowances and gratuities to be paid to persons employed as members of fire brigades or to their widows, children and dependants. The current Scheme is in the Firemen's Pension Scheme Order 1992, S.I. 1992/129, as amended. Paragraph 1 extends section 26 to include a member of a fire brigade's surviving civil partner. It also clarifies the position in relation to widowers, by substituting the words "surviving spouse" for "widow".
Paragraph 2 - House of Commons Members’ Fund Act 1948 (c. 36)
910.Section 4 of the House of Commons Members’ Fund Act 1948 gives the trustees of the fund powers to make periodical or other payments to former members of the House of Commons or to their widows, widowers and orphan children, having regard to their circumstances. Paragraph 2 extends this to include a surviving civil partner of a former member.
Paragraph 3 - Parliamentary and Other Pensions Act 1972 (c. 48)
911.Section 27(2)(a) of the Parliamentary and Other Pensions Act 1972 makes provision for the payment of pensions to the widow, widower and any eligible children of a former Prime Minister or Speaker of the House of Commons. Paragraph 3 extends this to include the surviving civil partner of a former Prime Minister or Speaker.
Paragraph 4 - Theatres Trust Act 1976 (c. 27)
912.Section 3(d)(iii) of the Theatres Trust Act 1976 gives the trustees power to enter into agreements with insurance (or other) companies to provide gratuities or pensions to a Trust employee, his widow, family and dependants. Paragraph 4 extends this to include an employee's surviving civil partner.
913.It also clarifies the existing law in relation to widowers by substituting the words "surviving spouse" for "widow" to ensure that it is clear that the same arrangements apply to surviving spouses of both male and female employees.
