Explanatory note

These regulations amend regulation 6 of the Pensions Increase (Speakers' Pensions) Regulations 1972 which excepted pensions payable to or in respect of past Speakers of the House of Commons under sections 26 and 27 of the Parliamentary and other Pensions Act 1972 from the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971. They provide that the pension of any particular past Speaker or his dependants shall for the purpose of calculating the increase thereto under the 1971 Act be deemed to have begun on the date of the last increase in the pension payable to that person if he should cease to hold that office and not on the date when he actually ceases to hold that office. The new version of regulation 6 follows the practice applied to pensions payable under Mr Speaker Morrison's Retirement Act 1959, the Hon. Lady Hylton-Foster's Annuity Act 1965 and Mr Speaker King's Retirement Act 1971 and provides that the increases under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 added to the basic pension payable to or in respect of a past Speaker shall at no time exceed the pension which would be payable to or in respect of the current Speaker if he ceases to hold that office.

In accordance with the powers conferred by section 5(4) of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, the regulations provide that increases payable thereunder may take effect in respect of any period beginning on or after 31st July 1978. On this date pensions payable under sections 26 and 27 of the Parliamentary and other Pensions Act 1972 were increased by virtue of the Ministerial and other Salaries Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1102), and the operation of section 29 of the Parliamentary and other Pensions Act 1972.