Scottish Parliament e-Brief
Issue 126, 12th August 2002
SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK
Parliament is in recess.
SECTION 2 - NEWS
£8 MILLION ADDED TO STG FUNDS
Another £8 million has been added to transport workers' pension
funds to be distributed shortly as lump sum payments to thousands
of pensioners, Deputy Transport Minister, Lewis Macdonald, has
confirmed.
Scottish Ministers successfully negotiated to keep £118 million from the Scottish Transport Group's (STG) surplus funds, and further discussion with HM Treasury has resulted in £8 million being added to this sum, bringing the total amount to be distributed to £126 million.
These funds will be paid out as ex-gratia payments to all former STG members and are over and above current pension entitlements. They will be calculated in proportion to existing benefits from the pension scheme.
Letters detailing the lump sum ex-gratia payments are being sent to 14,000 former STG employees with full details of how each individual payment has been calculated. Pensioners are being asked to check that all data is accurate, to confirm their eligibility and to return confirmation as soon as possible. Payments will be actioned as soon as pensioners return their forms.
The STG was formally dissolved earlier this year and funds were moved to the Scottish Executive to start the payment process as quickly as possible. Executive officials negotiated early access to the pension records and began evaluating the pensioners' details immediately.
An advertising campaign will be launched next week to ensure all former employees know how to claim.
Widows and widowers of members who died before the initial agreement was reached with HM Treasury will receive a payment to the value of 50% of that which would have been received by their spouse or partner. This represents their full entitlement under the rules of the pension scheme on which the ex-gratia payments are based.
Surplus funds came to the Executive when the STG was formally dissolved and ceased to exist on 7th June 2002. Full payments will be made to the estate of any former member who has died since that date, and the payments will equate to what they would have received had they been alive.
To ensure fairness the Executive is also preparing to make full payments to the estate of any former members who died after the initial agreement was reached with HM Treasury on 18th December 2000. Again, such payments will fully reflect what would have been received by the member if they had still been alive.
Letters are now being sent out to former STG pension members and this process will be ongoing. Members will receive a letter confirming the total amount, a booklet with full information on how calculations are made together with a request to return a reply slip confirming that the data is correct and bank details for payment. Payments will be made by bank transfer.
Members who believe that the STG Pension Schemes might not hold details of their current address are invited to write to the SPPA at:
Scottish Public Pensions Agency, STG
PO Box 13325
HAWICK
TD9 9YQ
The following details should be provided: full name, pension scheme, National Insurance number, date of birth and current address.
WELL DONE MESSAGE FROM
EDUCATION MINISTER
Education and Young People Minister, Cathy Jamieson, has
congratulated Scotland's Standard Grade candidates on their
efforts and thanked all involved in the process.
Ms Jamieson said:
"I would like to congratulate candidates, teachers and lecturers across Scotland for all the hard work they have put in for their exams. I am delighted that the processes put in place by SQA have allowed them to approach today with greater confidence than ever before.
"I would therefore like to thank all involved in the process this year, namely John Ward CBE, Chair of the SQA, the Board, and all the staff of the SQA for their strenuous efforts.
"Looking at some of this year's statistics, I am particularly pleased to see so many more pupils taking the Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2 and Advanced Higher qualifications. I am also pleased to see that the number of pupils taking the Standard Grade exam continues to remain very high.
"Today is a day to celebrate the achievements of our young people. It is a day when they can decide what path to take next in life - whether to go back to school, whether to go into further or higher education, or whether to enter the world of work. Whatever they decide, I wish them all the very best."
The Scottish Qualifications Authority has set up a special Results 2002 website to answer queries and provide other detailed information.
The SQA also has a helpline on 0845 278 8080 which is open between 7am and 10pm until Sunday.
Anyone who does not receive their results can call the Royal Mail helpline on 0845 602 3847 between 8am and 6pm until Friday.
The Careers Scotland One Life - Results Exam helpline can offer advice on different further and higher education courses. It can be reached at 0800 100 8000.
SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS
Parliament is in recess.
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