It has not yet been a week since our visit to parliament and I have already received emails from signatories of the petition asking for details of stage two of our campaign; as one never to squander an opportunity, I thought that I would update you and suggest action that supporters can take immediately: Recent Parliamentary Questions and the Answers Received: Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many widows of police officers ceased to be entitled to a continued dependant's pension following remarriage in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. (210101) Tabled on: 13 October 2014 This question was grouped with the following question(s) for answer: 1. To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations she has received from widows of police officers on continuing entitlement to dependants' pensions on remarriage. (210102) Tabled on: 13 October 2014 2. To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to allow police widows and widowers in England and Scotland in receipt of dependants' pensions to continue to receive such pensions in the event of remarriage. (210103) Tabled on: 13 October 2014 3. To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will estimate the cost to the public purse of treating pensions for police widows and widowers in England and Scotland in the same way as those in Northern Ireland in respect of remarriage. (210104) Tabled on: 13 October 2014 Answer: Mike Penning: Information is not available for each of the last 10 years. Data collected for the police pension scheme valuation recorded 131 cessations of spouse pensions due to remarriages over the period 2008-12. A small number of letters have been received in the Home Office from widows of police officers on this issue. Under the 1987 Police Pension Scheme, in common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, benefits cease to be payable where a widow or widower remarries or cohabits with another partner. The rules were changed in 2006 for the 2006 Police Pension Scheme which was costed to allow for these benefits, and there are no proposals to apply these changes to the 1987 scheme in England and Wales. The police pension scheme in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Government. As part of the police pension scheme valuation as at 2012 the scheme actuary estimated that ignoring cessation on remarriage for current and future widows would increase the schemes’ liabilities in England and Wales by around £50 million based on recent rates of remarriage, not including the cost of reinstating pensions of widows who have already remarried. Below is an excerpt from my letter sent to Mike Penning dated 1st November 2014: ‘From the figures provided by the Home Office, it can be seen that in a four year period a mere 131 widows had their pensions revoked, however small the number - the government benefitted from this saving. I know that this is not money that can be spent elsewhere, as the 'pension pot' does not work in that way and is paid on a ‘pay as you go’ basis. In comparison to this small number of cessations - 22,000 women are currently choosing their pension over happiness; they continue to receive their pension as they have previously, and at no extra cost to the pension scheme. In these times of austerity their decision is likely to remain the same for a long time to come. There will be little opportunity for saving money from cessations within this group. The reinstatement of revoked pensions still represents a saving for the period during which the pensions were not being paid, and to grant lifelong pensions to the widows still in receipt of their pensions, would be to maintain the status quo and therefore would not cost any more money than it does currently or will eventually. It would however, allow them to choose happiness without being penalised financially.’ It is imperative that we maintain the growing momentum of our campaign; for those of you wishing to join me in doing so please consider writing to the following individuals – it would be especially useful if their own constituents could contact them as they are the ones most likely to receive a reply: The Rt Hon David Cameron – constituency Whitney West Oxfordshire camerond@parliament.uk The Rt Hon Edward Miliband – constituency Doncaster North ed.miliband.mp@parliament.uk The Rt Hon Nick Clegg – constituency Sheffield Hallam http://engage.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/deputy-prime-ministers-office/contact-the-deputy-prime-minister/ The Rt Hon Mike Penning Minister for Policing – constituency Hemel Hempstead mike@penning4hemel.com The Rt Hon Theresa May Home Secretary – constituency Maidenhead office@maidenheadconservatives.com privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk Mike Penning said: ‘A small number of letters have been received in the Home Office from widows of police officers on this issue.’ He made no mention of the 30 + MPs that have been contacted. It would be fantastic if the next time a question is tabled, he has to admit that he has received a unprecedented volume of letters on this issue. Thanks to all that have contacted their MP – please consider writing to them if you have not done so. The government can make these changes if they choose to – join me in helping them to make the right choice. I can be contacted at CathrynHall@outlook.com with any replies that you receive. Cathryn