Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to meet senior representatives from the Civil Nuclear Police Federation to discuss a realistic retirement age for its members; and if he will make a statement.

The Civil Nuclear industry is a priority area for me and I value the work that the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) does in securing our nuclear sites. The issue of pension age for CNC officers is an extremely important matter and I met with Mike Griffiths, the Chief Constable of the CNC and Vic Emery, the Chair of the Civil Nuclear Police Association (CNPA) on 9th August, following a change in BEIS Ministerial portfolios, to discuss this matter with them and to hear their concerns about a higher pension age for CNC officers.

Parliament defined ‘members of a police force’ in the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 in such a way as to exclude CNC officers from the arrangements that were made for other police forces under that Act. This interpretation was confirmed by the High Court in August last year following a Judicial Review by the Civil Nuclear Police Federation (CNPF).

I intend to meet with the CNPF early next year. In the interim, I am more than happy to review any written representations, which raise any new points, submitted by the CNPF. I can assure the hon Member that I will fully consider all relevant evidence when considering whether or not to seek a change in Government policy.