Research and Information Service Bill Paper 23 March 2012 Colin Pidgeon The Superannuation Bill NIAR 105-12 This paper provides a general overview of existing redundancy pay – statutory, and in the private and wider public sector. It then concentrates on the provisions of the Superannuation Bill and raises some specific issues for Assembly Members’ consideration. Research and Information Service briefings are compiled for the benefit of MLAs and their support staff. Authors are available to discuss the contents of these papers with Members and their staff but cannot advise members of the general public. We do, however, welcome written evidence that relates to our papers and these should be sent to the Research and Information Service, Northern Ireland Assembly, Room 139, Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3XX or e-mailed to
[email protected] Paper 59/12 23 March 2012 Paper 59/12 23 March 2012 NIAR 105-12 The Superannuation Bill Executive Summary Following a general briefing on redundancy provisions in the private and wider public sector, the research presented in this paper looks at the Superannuation Act 2010 which applies in Great Britain (GB). Specifically it presents information relating to the legal challenges brought against the UK Government by the civil service unions in GB. The primary purpose of the Northern Ireland Superannuation Bill is to make it more straightforward for the Northern Ireland Executive to introduce a new compensation scheme for Northern Ireland civil servants that is less generous than the current one. It does this by removing the existing requirement for government to secure trade union agreement to changes and replacing it with a duty to consult with a view to reaching agreement.