Lord Alli withdraws his pensions amendment to the equal marriage bill
Labour peer Lord Alli’s amendment to equalise pension provision for same-sex couples in the area of survivor benefits has been withdrawn.
As part of the final day of the committee stage, peers are continuing the process of scrutinising the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill and debating amendments.
The bill in its current form will allow pension providers to discriminate against gay married couples as well as those in civil partnerships, by ensuring they receive far less survivor benefits than their straight counterparts.
The government has warned reforming the system would be too expensive.
In May, Equalities Minister Helen Grant said: “We’re very conscious that these [pension] schemes already face difficult economic conditions.” The government estimated that the cost of equalising pensions would be £18 million.
She added: “Their spouses and civil partners deserve the same benefits as their straight counterparts when their loved ones are gone. It’s really as simple as that.”
A spokesman for Lord Alli said the Labour peer was planning to return to the debate on pension provision during the remaining stages of the Bill.
MyPinkNews members are invited to comment on articles to discuss the content we publish, or debate issues more generally. Please familiarise yourself with our community guidelines to ensure that our community remains a safe and inclusive space for all.
Report this comment
Please let us know why you would like to report this comment:
The ability to comment will be removed from anyone who does not follow our Terms & Conditions