Written question asked by Lord True (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Warsi (Conservative) on Monday, 24 March 2014.

Pensions

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the European Union for the abolition of taxpayer funding of the pensions of MEPs; and when they last made any such representations.[HL5945]

Answer: This Government believes that MEP pensions should, as with those of British Parliamentarians and Civil Servants, be kept under review and, if necessary, reformed to ensure that they do not become a inappropriate burden on taxpayers. The Government has made it clear that we expect all the EU Institutions, including the European Parliament, to make very substantial savings on pay and pensions expenditure. The Government has also, through the Public Service Pensions Act 2013, created the scope for some British MEP pensions, where the MEP continues to receive their salary directly from the British Government, to be reformed in line with the wider changes in public service pensions. Any decision on the reform of these pensions will be made by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA).

Secondary information