Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) contingent decision applications: FOI release

Information requested

1. To maintain fairness and transparency who decides if private pensions can be transferred in to the Police Pension?

2. Who is the senior manager of the SPPA and what are their contact details?

3. How many members have been issued with correspondence to Apply for a Transfer Contingent Decision – 2015 Remedy?

Response

1. Provisions for transferring pensions in to the Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) are contained in Part 11 of the Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2015. These reflect the statutory rights for pension transfers contained in Part 4ZA to the Pensions Schemes Act 1993. Where the requirements in legislation are met, in particular those in relation to timescales, transfers are routinely accepted. Where timescales are not met, the scheme manager may exercise discretion to accept a transfer having considered the particular circumstances of an individual case. If a request to transfer in is rejected by the scheme manager, they can informally request that this is reviewed by SPPA Operations Transfers Team Leader. If after this review the member still believes that the regulations have not been applied correctly then they have the right to formally appeal to the Scottish Ministers under the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure. Appeals are determined on behalf of the Scottish Ministers by the Head of Policy.

2. Stephen Pathirana, CEO. SPPAChiefExecutive@gov.scot

3. Four members of the Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) have been issued with contingent decision applications.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.