Remaining stages of Public Service Pensions Bill

The Bill completed its Commons stages and will now move to the House of Lords for consideration.

• Watch Parliament TV: Remaining stages of Public Service Pensions Bill
• Read Commons Hansard: Public Service Pensions Bill
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Pensions

Summary of the Bill

The Public Service Pensions Bill would establish a framework enabling the Government to introduce new public service pension schemes.

In line with the recommendations of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission, the new schemes would provide pension benefits based on career average rather than final salary and individuals would have a normal pension age linked to their State Pension age (except for the schemes for the firefighters, police and armed forces, which would have a normal pension age of 60).
 
Except where transitional protection has been agreed for those closest to retirement, the existing schemes would close for future accrual by April 2015 (2014 for the local government schemes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland).

Progress of the Bill

The Public Service Pensions Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 14 September 2012 and received second reading on 29 October 2012.

• Parliament News: Second reading of Public Service Pensions Bill

The Bill completed its committee stage on 22 November 2012.

The Bill has passed all its Commons stages and will be introduced into the House of Lords for consideration.

Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers, on the Public Service Pensions Bill and find out how a bill becomes an Act of Parliament.

• Bills before Parliament 2012-13: Public Service Pensions Bill
• About Parliament: Passage of a Bill

House of Commons Library analysis

The House of Commons Library produces briefing papers to inform MPs of key issues. The papers contain factual information and a range of opinions on each subject, and aim to be politically impartial.

The Library published briefing papers for second reading and committee stage.

• Commons Library briefing paper: Second reading of Public Service Pensions Bill
• Commons Library briefing paper: Committee Stage Report of Public Service Pensions Bill

Report stage and third reading

The report stage gives MPs an opportunity, on the floor of the House, to consider further amendments (proposals for change) to a Bill which has been examined in a public bill committee.

There is no set time period between the end of committee stage and the start of the report stage.

What happens at report stage?

All MPs may speak and vote, for lengthy or complex Bills the debates may be spread over several days. All MPs can suggest amendments to the Bill or new clauses (parts) they think should be added.

What happens after report stage?

Report stage is usually followed immediately by debate on the Bill's third reading.

What happens at third reading?

Debate on the Bill is usually short, and limited to what is actually in the Bill, rather than, as at second reading, what might have been included. Amendments (proposals for change) cannot be made to a Bill at third reading in the Commons.

At the end of the debate, the House decides (votes on) whether to approve the third reading of the Bill.

What happens after third reading?

If the Bill started in the Commons it goes to the House of Lords for its first reading. If the Bill started in the Lords it will return to the House of Lords for consideration of any amendments the Commons have made.