Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that their proposal to eliminate age discrimination in public sector pension schemes does not create any sex discrimination in such schemes.

On 16 July 2020, the government published a consultation^[1] on “Public service pension schemes: changes to the transitional arrangements to the 2015 schemes”, accompanied by an Equalities Impact Assessment^[2] (EIA). The EIA considered the impacts of the proposals on those with protected characteristics as identified in the Equality Act 2010, including sex.

As part of this consultation, the government also asked for views on the implications of the proposals for people with protected characteristics. The consultation closed on October 11, and the government is now considering the issues raised in response to the consultation.

The Equalities Impact Assessment will be updated in response to issues raised and will be published alongside the government’s response to the consultation in due course.

^[1]https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/900766/Public_Service_Pensions_Consultation.pdf

^[2]https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/900999/Public_Service_Pensions_EIA_.pdf