Official Report 565KB pdf
Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025
Our next item of business is the consideration of a Scottish statutory instrument that is subject to the negative procedure. I refer members to paper 1, which sets out the purpose of the regulations. I declare an interest, which is that I am a former police officer.
Do members wish to make any recommendations in relation to the negative instrument, or are we content that it comes into force?
For clarity, convener, I note that I am content with the instrument, but I want to briefly raise an issue under this agenda item, which I have notified you and the clerks about. I accept that it does not relate entirely to this SSI; it is an issue with police pensions more generally.
The issue relates to several constituents of mine who are retired police officers, who have experienced lengthy delays—of years, in some cases—in receiving their remedial service statement or RSS, and who are still waiting. The amount owed is considerable and, as you can imagine, it is having a major impact on my constituents. I am aware that other MSPs have had similar cases.
The main issues are the length of time that is taken to pay out the moneys that are due under the McCloud remedy and constituents’ concerns about communication around that delay.
The Scottish Police Authority has advised us that it is working hard to deliver a significant number of RSSs by the statutory deadline and to deliver the bulk of them by 31 May 2025. The SPA says that there are a number of more complex cases that will take longer, but that most eligible police pensioners will receive their RSS by 31 July 2025. It reiterates that not every RSS can be delivered through that process, and that more complex cases will necessarily take longer to complete.
However, as I have said, I have a number of constituents who have not had their pay and, although there is now a July deadline in place, they remain concerned.
I do not know whether other members around the table are receiving similar queries, but I wonder whether the convener would be willing to write to Ivan McKee in his ministerial role about the issue. If that came from the committee, it might carry more weight, convener.
I wanted to keep my intervention brief but, if required, I can provide you and the clerks with further information from my constituents who have been in touch.
Thanks very much for that update. The access to pensions by Police Scotland officers is an issue that the committee has looked at in the past. On the basis of your update, I am more than happy for the committee to write to Ivan McKee, as Minister for Public Finance, on the issues that you have raised.
Before we move on, I want to confirm that members are happy that the SSI comes into force. In particular, I want to confirm that with Liam Kerr, because he is joining us online.
That is fine—thank you.
Super. On that basis, is the committee agreed to make no recommendations on the instrument?
Members indicated agreement.