Any pension schemes established by the Parliament or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) providing pensions in respect of MSPs or Members of the Scottish Executive and the staff of the SPCB are in effect public service pensions and therefore ought to be increased in line with the provision made in relation to official pensions by the 1971 Act.  This will provide for inflation-proofing of pensions and will help to ensure that whatever pension scheme the Parliament adopts should meet with the Inland Revenue’s tax approval rules.  This does not, however, apply the 1971 Act to pensions payable under private arrangements.  This will bring the pension provisions for MSPs, members of the Scottish Executive and the staff of the SPCB in line with what exists for Members of the Westminster Parliament, Members of the European Parliament and which is also proposed for Members of the Welsh Assembly.
General