The commission will undertake a fundamental structural review of public service pension provision by Budget 2011. It will produce an interim report in September 2010 ahead of the Spending Review.

Scope of the Commission's work

The commission will make recommendations on how public service pensions can be made sustainable and affordable in the long-term, fair to both the public service workforce and the taxpayer, and ensure that they are consistent with the fiscal challenges ahead.

The Commission will consider issues including:

* the growing disparity between public service and private sector pension provision;

* the need to ensure that future pension provision is fair across the workforce;

* how risk should be shared between the taxpayer and employee; and

* wider Government policy intended to encourage adequate saving for retirement and longer working lives.

The Teachers' Side submission to the Hutton Commission can be downloaded here.

PENSION CHANGES 2007 - ADVICE LEAFLETS

The Association has produced a series of advice leaflets regarding the proposed revision to teachers' pensions. The leaflets addresses the effects of the proposals, including specific advice for certain groups of member for whom there are particular issues. The leaflets can be found here.

TEACHERS' PENSIONS - OUTCOME OF NEGITIOATIONS

To view the outline points of the recommendation of changes to the Teachers Pension Scheme click here.

The view the full recommendations by the DfES click here.

PENSION CHANGES 2007 - ADVICE LEAFLETS

The Association has produced a series of advice leaflets regarding the proposed revision to teachers' pensions. The leaflets addresses the effects of the proposals, including specific advice for certain groups of member for whom there are particular issues. The leaflets can be found here

PROPOSED REVISIONS TO TEACHERS'PENSIONS

The nature of these proposals is almost identical to the detail which was outlined at Congress in May, and which has been discussed and approved by Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee.

As a result, the advice of the Association is currently to recommend the proposals. Council will have the opportunity to hear a report on this on Saturday 7 October and to approve a course of action. You will hear further details of this after Council has met.During coming months, there will be a variety of initiatives by the Association to alert members to the impact of the proposed changes, and I will contact you soon with regard to these.

Further advice as regards the effects of the proposals will follow in due course, including specific advice for certain groups of member for whom there are particular issues to address.

For the moment, encouraging responses to the formal Consultation is the priority. The Consultation and the response form can be found on the SPPA website http://www.sppa.gov.uk/pension_reform/teachers.htm. The closing date for responses is the 5th

January 2007.

A summary of the proposals can viewed here.

4 October 2006

PENSION UPDATE - 26 OCTOBER 2005The General Secretary today issued a letter to members regarding the considerable progress that has been made on the future of teachers' pensions following recent talks in London.You can view the General Secretary's letter and the "Framework Principles" here.The Association will be asked to ratify the principles on 8 November in London. Our Salaries Committee will meet on 4 November to determine our stance.Your opportunity to express your views about this is now. You can express your thoughts by e-mail to pensionsforum@ssta.org.uk anytime from now until 10.00 am on Friday 4 November. All views will be considered by our Salaries Committee at its meeting on that date. Please take this opportunity to respond now.

KEY POINTS

• Government proposal to raise minimum pension age from 60 to 65.

• From 2006 all new entrants would be on the 65 retirement age.

• For teachers currently in service under age 50 (today) each year worked from 2013 will only “pay out” at age 65. Years already worked by 2013 will still be payable at 60.

4 examples.

Teacher A - Age 50 (2003)

In 2013 (age 60) pension = 35/80 (100% of pension)

Teacher B - Age 40 (2003)

Further service to retirement = 10 yearsIn 2023 (age 60) pension = 25/80 (71% of pension)

Remaining 10/80 not payable until 2028 (29% of pension)

Teacher C - Age 30 (2003)

Further service to retirement = 20 yearsIn 2033 (age 60) pension = 15/80 (42% of pension)

Remaining 20/80 not payable until 2038 (57% of pension)

Teacher D - Age 25 (2003)

Further service to retirement = 35 yearsIn 2038 (age 60) pension = 10/80 (29% of pension)

Remaining 25/80 not payable until 2043 (71% of pension)

Teacher E - Age 25 (2006)

All pension not payable until Age 65 (2046) (100% of pension)Will adversely affect

Leave pension age at 60

The Association seeks the help of its members, and indeed any concerned teachers, to protest to MPs and MSPs about the Government proposals to increase the pension age from 60 to 65.

The Association urges its members to write to their MP and MSP, and a sample letter and "key points" guide are available for download below. Whilst simply downloading the sample letter and sending this off would be good, it would be much more helpful for members to use the "key points" to compose their own letter. Such a letter will impact much more on an MP/MSP than a "copy letter" will.

A sample is available for download below as  are the  key points. To download right click on the link and select "Save Target as".

Sample letter Word Format (.doc); Text File (.txt)

"IT'S YOUR MONEY" CAMPAIGN

The Association seeks the help of its members, and indeed any concerned teachers, to protest to MPs and MSPs about the Government proposals to increase the pension age from 60 to 65.

The Association urges its members to write to their MP and MSP, and a sample letter and "key points" guide are available for download from this page.