Season’s greetings! Here’s a short message to give you an update and a “watch this space”
regarding the HPPA Pension Justice Campaign.
* As of this week, 82 MPs have been written to and/or met with by our HPPA members on
the Pre 1997 injustice.
* This week 2 questions have been asked in the House in the past 2 days.
– https://x.com/PDJSwallow/status/1868717805090033927
– https://x.com/Susan4_ED/status/1868710002724315344
* Our members’ recent letters to MPs and meetings with MPs have focused on the “4 Asks”
(Refer to end of document).
– The Minister’s reply to Peter Swallow MP shows that we have achieved our
first “ask”. The TPR is doing the research!
– Now we need your help to move forward with the remaining “asks”.
– We are looking forward to the meetings on 20 & 22 January. We are available to
help at any time. Before those meetings, we will be back in touch with supportive
information.
* We have been busy with press releases and briefing packs. Once published, we will send
articles being developed by The Times, The Guardian, and the Observer.
* I will forward post letter of a different sort. I sent this yesterday to Kerry Kennedy, who is
the president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, an organisation that gave the “Ripple
of Hope” award to Antonio Neri, HPE CEO. “Each year, the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of
Hope Award honors exemplary leaders across government, business, advocacy, and
entertainment who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to social change and
worked to protect and advance equity, justice, and human rights.
https://rfkhumanrights.org/awards/ripple-of-hope-award/. You will read in the letter
about my reaction to this news.
* We have been interested to read about the WASPI decision. Our view is that this decision
may provide an opportunity for the Government to show their support for pension justice.
We are not asking the government for compensation but for their support to influence
change from HPE and the other companies to “do the right thing” regarding the treatment
of Pre 1997 pensioners. Pensioners are more likely to spend any money they receive so
this money will flow back into the local and national economy.
HPPA “4 Asks”
Bringing an end to Pre-97 Pensions Injustice
We ask the Government to bring an end to this injustice by doing the following:
- Implement the Work and Pensions Select Committee Recommendations
Instruct The Pensions Regulator (TPR) to conduct the research to determine the scale and
impact of the Pre-97 pension problem. This should include identifying the number of affected
pensioners and assessing the financial consequences of zero discretionary increases. The
findings should be publicly reported within 6 months, ensuring transparency and enabling evidence-based policymaking. This initiative aligns with TPR’s statutory objectives to protect members’ benefits and promote good governance, addressing critical gaps in fairness for pre-1997 pensioners. - Use the Power of Pensions Act 2021
Under the governance provisions of the Pension Act 2021, TPR must insist that companies
and Trustees collaborate to develop strategy and policy that address discretionary pension
increases for pre-1997 pensioners. These policies should align with pensioners’ reasonable
expectations, such as inflation-based benchmarks, while ensuring long-term scheme
affordability. Require transparent annual reporting on how increases are determined, with
oversight from The Pensions Regulator, to ensure fairness and accountability. This initiative
reflects companies’ ethical and social responsibility to support pensioners, particularly in
schemes with a history of zero increases. - Implement a Code of Ethical Practice
Implement a mandatory Code of Ethical Practice for pension schemes with pre-1997
members, aligned to Pensions Act 2021. This Code should outline principles of transparency,
fairness, and accountability in managing discretionary pension increases. It should be
accompanied by TPR ensuring adherence to the Code and be used in government
procurement decisions. Schemes should be required to publicly report on their compliance
and actions taken to secure the financial stability of pre-1997 pensioners. - Use the Government’s Purchasing Power
Ensure the ethical treatment of UK pre-1997 pensioners is included in ethical procurement
decisions made by government when considering companies bidding for public contracts.
This should include transparent reporting on pension increases, as well as commitments to
ensure long-term pension value for pensioners. Ensure independent oversight and regular
reporting to relevant government bodies to guarantee accountability and compliance
Co-ordinated action using these 4 levers of change can end this injustice.
We look forward to the meetings scheduled for 20 & 22 Jan.
Kind regards & season’s greetings from Patricia Kennedy & David Carson & HPPA pension
justice campaign team members