I have now had time to digest the events of Wednesday 25th during our visit to parliament. Many of you have been asking me about our next move. We are in a promising but delicate position at present, with the Treasury and other departments examining some of the changes that we are requesting. This is the first time this retrospective change has ever been considered and that is down to you guys here on this petition - those of you reading this update right at this moment. During the adjournment debate the Minister for Police Mike Penning revealed that he had lobbied for the changes to the 1988 RUC Police Pension Scheme as he was then the Minister for Northern Ireland. In this he is an important ally. The changes in N I have secured lifelong pensions for all RUC widows under the 1988 rules and widows that had previously had their pensions revoked due to remarriage or cohabiting with a partner will have them reinstated. ‘Justice Minister David Ford has announced that he has given approval for the payment of pensions reinstated to RUC widows to commence.’ ~ Wednesday, 3 December 2014 ‘……..Initial legal advice indicated that only those widows covered by the 1988 pension scheme would be eligible. The Department was concerned to ensure clarity on this matter and sought further advice. It can now be confirmed that widows previously in the 1973 scheme are also entitled to the reinstatement of their pensions……..’ Northern Ireland Executive Release Date: 3 Dec 2014 Source: PFNI The Chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Terry Spence QPM, said: “……I’m glad this matter has been cleared up without recourse to further, time-consuming legislation. I welcome the Minister’s commitment to right a wrong and I know it will be well received within the police ‘family’…..’ During Remembrance weekend in November of last year, Prime Minister David Cameron announced that Armed Forces widows and widowers would be able to retain their pensions after remarrying. However, campaigners had not requested the reinstatement of revoked pensions, therefore this was not considered nor granted. Mr Cameron said of the changes: 'I think that it wasn't fair and I'm delighted that because we have a strong economy we can afford to make this change and give justice to these people.’ Daily Mail 8th November 2014 As you can see a lot of importance has been attached to the ‘justice’ and ‘fairness’ of granting to those widows and widowers the lifelong pensions that had been requested and campaigned for. Our campaign is asking for parity with the RUC widows. During the debate on the 25th much was said about the definition of ‘an officer killed on duty’ this is an obvious indication that what is actually being considered by the Home Office and the Treasury is a change to the ’87 rules for the survivors of those officers killed on duty - to the exclusion of all others. We believe that it is fair and just that all police survivors should benefit from pensions for life irrespective of whether: their spouse was killed or died on duty, was an off duty serving officer, or died of natural causes or post retirement. This is what we mean by ALL and what was meant in Northern Ireland. Terry Spence spoke of ‘the police family’ and I am asking members of our police family to contact Mr Penning and others to ask that we be treated fairly and with the same level of justice. Our mantra at the beginning of this campaign was ‘no widow left behind’ that sentiment is now extended to widowers that have joined with us in our campaign. As delighted as I would be to hear that the survivors of officers killed on duty were to be granted lifelong pensions – I think it is wrong for some members of the police family to be treated differently to others. To emphasise our idea of what it means to be part of the police family please consider attaching photos to your emails – families are made up of individuals, of real people and we were able on Wednesday to remind the government that we and our children are a living memorial to our lost loved ones and not just numbers on a data base. Those of you that do not have connections to the police can also send photos if you wish and declare yourself an ‘honorary member of the police family’ for the duration of this campaign. Send your emails and photos if you choose to include them a.s.a.p. to your own MP and the following: mike@penning4hemel.com mayt@parliament.uk richard.graham.mp@parliament.uk steve.brine.mp@parliament.uk If these email addresses do not work as a link type them in manually. Mark all correspondence and emails as ‘Private and confidential’ and include the title Police Widows’ Pensions. The Budget will be announced on the 18th March so the race is on to make your feelings known. Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con) said this during the adjournment debate on the 25th: ‘I am most grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Richard Graham) for securing this debate. Does the Minister accept that, in many cases, such as that of my constituent, Mrs Penn, who has taken the issue up with me at a surgery, people are supporting the campaign on behalf of others? The pension might not be hugely necessary for them financially, but they are supporting the campaign on behalf of their colleagues for whom it is. I very much commend the public-spirited nature of the petition. It is about not only those who need the pension—we fully respect their needs—but those who are doing it on behalf of others.’ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm150225/halltext/150225h0001.htm#15022587000001 I would like to join him in paying tribute to those of you that are campaigning on our behalf with little or nothing to be gained for yourselves - you are wonderful. We have been complimented on the tone of our campaign and the way in which we have conducted ourselves in our communications with the government – we are members of the police family and grateful members of the public, we pride ourselves on our dignity – they should not be so surprised. I can be contacted at CathrynHall@outlook.com Thank you a million times over for your continued support. Cathryn