Scottish Public Pensions Agency - queries regarding police scheme calculation error: FOI release

Information requested

1) You previously advised that 269 retired SPPA police scheme members have been affected by the calculation error that resulted from incorrect guidance received by SPPA in February 2025. To date, how many of those officers affected have/have not been notified that potentially their pension has been calculated incorrectly?

2) You advised that you were made aware of this error in February 2025, what steps have since been taken to address the issue and notify those affected?

3) How many officers have continued to receive the incorrect monthly pension without being formally notified by the SPPA since February 2025?

4) The Scottish Public Finance Manual refers to Good Faith. Officers affected have undoubtedly acted in good faith and the error which has resulted has been caused by UK Government and SPPA, which are both outwith the control of recipients. As such, what was the decision making process / guidance received in relation to the "clawback" which is underway?

5) Taking into account The Scottish Public Finance Manual, what options have been agreed in respect of repayments?

Response

1) All of these members have been notified that their pension may have been calculated incorrectly.

2) Addressing the issue:

Following identification of the issue in February 2025, SPPA undertook work to:

• identify and validate the cohort of affected members;
• review the relevant calculations and associated guidance;
• assess the financial and administrative implications; and
• develop the appropriate approach to remedy, including consideration of relevant financial governance requirements.

The detailed information requested regarding the steps taken to address the issue is exempt from disclosure under section 29(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, as it relates to the development of Scottish Government policy concerning the application of financial governance principles and the treatment of overpayments in this context.

Disclosure of this information would reveal internal policy development material and consideration of options.

We have considered the public interest in disclosure; however, we consider that this is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring clarity and coherence in the development and application of policy in this area.

Notifying those affected:

In late 2025, SPPA wrote to all affected members. Where a valid email address was held, members were contacted by email; otherwise, correspondence was issued by post.

3) No members of schemes managed by SPPA have continued to receive pensions in payment that are incorrect due to the calculation error that resulted from incorrect guidance received by SPPA without being formally notified by the SPPA.

4) The information requested is exempt from disclosure under section 29(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, as it relates to the development of Scottish Government policy concerning the application of the Scottish Public Finance Manual and associated financial governance principles in these circumstances.

The information sought concerns internal consideration of how relevant public finance guidance should be applied in this case, including the options examined and advice provided to inform the approach taken. 

We have considered the public interest in disclosure. While there is a public interest in transparency in relation to pension administration and public finance, we consider that this is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining the integrity and clarity of policy development in this area.

5) The information requested is exempt from disclosure under section 29(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, as it relates to the development of Scottish Government policy concerning repayment arrangements in cases of overpayment arising from the identified issue.

Disclosure would reveal internal policy development material, including the consideration of potential approaches to repayment arrangements. We have considered the public interest in disclosure; however, we consider that, on balance, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs that in disclosure at this time.

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.