Committee’s letter to DSD on forthcoming Pensions Bill in NI

Room 242
Parliament Buildings
BELFAST
BT4 3XX

Email: john.simmons@niassembly.gov.uk

Tel: 028 9052 1787
Fax: 028 9052 1667

13 June 2011

Our Ref: CSD/017/2011/SK

Ms Margaret Sisk
Department for Social Development
Lighthouse Building
1 Cromac Place
Gasworks Business Park
Ormeau Road
Belfast BT7 2JB

Dear Margaret,

Proposed Pension Bill

At its meeting of 9 June 2011, the Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials on the Westminster Pensions Bill and the forthcoming corresponding Pensions Bill.

The Committee agreed that it would write to the Department to seek more information on the 7,000 women who will be affected by the proposed acceleration of the equalisation of State Pension age.

In particular, the Committee sought information on the financial impact of the proposed legislation on the 7,000 women who will be affected and clarity on the time period that these women will have to adjust to the proposed increase in their State Pension age. The Committee felt that it would be useful if this information could be provided for each of the 8 categories of women as listed in Annex 1 of the Department’s briefing paper.

I would be grateful if you could supply this information by Thursday 23 June 2011.

On behalf of the Committee, I would like to convey my thanks to the Departmental officials for their briefing to the Committee.

Yours sincerely

John Simmons
Clerk, Committee for Social Development