PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS FOR UNMARRIED PARTNERS

That this House welcomes the provision in the new Civil Service Pension Scheme for long-term survivor benefits for a financially inter-dependent partner and provisions in Members' pension schemes for the same; further welcomes the reviews undertaken by other public service pensions schemes to include unmarried partners; but notes that none has yet made any such provisions; further notes that over 85 per cent. of private schemes provide for unmarried partners; recognises that the proportion of unmarried couples in the United Kingdom is increasing; believes that it is an issue of basic fairness and protection that unmarried couples should receive the same benefits as marred couples should one partner die; and calls on the Government to ensure public sector pension schemes are amended accordingly to provide for long-term survivor benefits for financially-interdependent partners whether married or not.