Explanatory note

These Regulations apply the Pensions (Increase) Act 1974 to pension payable under the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. Such pensions which begin after 1st January 1973 qualify for the special pensions increases under the 1974 Act. The Regulations specify those pensions under the scheme (“Class A pensions”) which are payable in respect of service in a grade of the civil service which suffered deferment of a pay increase in consequence of the Counter-Inflation (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972 during the period 6th November 1972 to 31st March 1973; these pension will consequently be increased in accordance with Part I of the Schedule to the 1974 Act. All other pensions under the scheme (“Class B pensions”) will be increased in accordance with Part II of the Schedule to the Act.

The Regulations also specify the “relevant date”—the date of the principal pay increase made or expected to be made during the year ending 6th November 1974—for the grades concerned.

The provisions of the 1974 Act are modified for pensions of those civil servants with a reserved right to the terms of the Superannuations Act 1859. Those pensions are calculated by reference to pay on the last day of service rather than the average salary over a 12-month period. The effect of the modification is that no increase is payable on such pensions which begin after the specified relevant date.

Under the powers in section 4(3)(a) of the 1974 Act the Regulations provide for increases payable by virtue of the Regulations to take effect from 1st December 1973.