Schedule 1 Rule 39: Amount of office-holder pension
152.Rule 39 makes similar provisions for office-holders to those made in rule 38 for MSPs. The rule sets out the formula which applies to calculate the amount of an office-holder pension that is payable as well as setting a maximum pension payable. The provisions have the identical effect to rule 38 for MSP pension in relation to the calculation of pension entitlement where the member has lower and higher scheme member contribution rates.
153.Rule 39 differs from rule 38 to account separately for separate periods of office-holder service. This recognises the varying nature and salaries attributable to different qualifying office-holder posts an individual may hold in their career, where a final office-holder salary may be much less or much more than a salary for an office held earlier in a person’s career. Rule 39(2) makes clear that each period of service as an office-holder entitles the individual to a separate pension entitlement. Under rule 39(3), the value of office-holder benefits accrued are calculated individually before being aggregated for payment purposes.
154.Rule 39(4) applies an office-holder pension cap similar to the MSP pension cap of two-thirds of the final salary of the office-holder (rule 39(4)(a)). However, where there has been more than one office held such an approach would apply multiple caps. Rule 39(4)(b) applies the cap as two-thirds of the highest office-holder salary.