AEA Technology Pension Case

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 20 Jan 2023 Closed: 24 Sep 2023 Parliament page
Following its work on the British Steel Pension Scheme , the Committee will question Government Actuary Martin Clarke and Karl Banister, Director of Operations, Legal and Clinical, from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman on the Atomic Energy Agency Technology pension case. This inquiry is based on an ongoing NAO … Read more
3 Recommendations
17 Conclusions
2 Reports
1 Oral session
3 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 8 events
23 Nov
2023
Report published
24 Sep
2023
Report published
11 Jul
2023
Correspondence
14 Jun
2023
Report published
17 Apr
2023
Correspondence
17 Apr
2023
Correspondence
13 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
13 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
13 Mar 2023
View on parliament.uk
AEA Technology pension case
Karl Banister · Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Martin Clarke · Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) Tom Josephs · Department for Work and Pensions
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
3 Recommendation Deferred
Fifty-Seventh Report - AEA Technol…
Review ombudsman arrangements to ensure adequate appeal routes for pension complaints.
The AEAT case shows that there are gaps in the routes of appeal available for people raising complaints about their pensions. It is a fundamental right that 6 AEA Technology Pension Case people have appropriate and accessible routes of appeal. … Read more
Government Response
The government deflects the recommendation, stating that the request for the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee to consider time limits is a matter for that Committee. It does not address the recommendation to review ombudsman arrangements.
HM Treasury
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13 Conclusion Deferred
Fifty-Seventh Report - AEA Technol…
Accessible ombudsman services are essential for people to pursue independent, affordable routes of appeal.
It is a fundamental right that people should have appropriate and accessible routes of appeal. Actions by government bodies are in principle subject to judicial review through the courts, but this is an expensive process.25 Ombudsman services provide a way … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the recommendation and will conduct an independent review of The Pensions Ombudsman in Autumn 2024, noting the department can request consideration of other relevant areas during this review.
HM Treasury
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14 Conclusion Deferred
Fifty-Seventh Report - AEA Technol…
Ombudsman services lack statutory jurisdiction to investigate key 1996 government information in AEAT case.
In the case of the AEAT pension scheme, relevant ombudsman services said they were unable to properly investigate key aspects of scheme members complaints.27 Some aspects of the case could be reviewed. For example, GAD described to us how complaints … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the recommendation and will conduct an independent review of The Pensions Ombudsman in Autumn 2024, noting the department can request consideration of other relevant areas during this review.
HM Treasury
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15 Conclusion Deferred
Fifty-Seventh Report - AEA Technol…
PHSO's legislative remit contains significant gaps preventing investigation of AEAT pension cases.
PHSO described to us the gaps in its remit which prevent it from providing pension scheme members with a route to appeal in this case or in similar situations. PHSO explained that its jurisdiction only allows it to investigate GAD … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the observation, stating that The Pensions Ombudsman will undergo an independent review in 2024, during which the department can request consideration of additional areas, without committing to amend PHSO's legislation.
HM Treasury
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16 Conclusion Deferred
Fifty-Seventh Report - AEA Technol…
Pensions Ombudsman faces remit limitations, Limitation Act barriers, and inadequate data retention protocols.
The Pensions Ombudsman may also be a suitable body to investigate the administration and management of pension schemes, as it is the expert in government for investigating pensions complaints.32 However, it has no remit over the role of GAD in … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the recommendation and will conduct an independent review of The Pensions Ombudsman in Autumn 2024, stating the department can request the reviewer considers other areas that would benefit from their consideration.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 17 of 3 classified
Accepted 5
Deferred 5
Rejected 7
Total 3 recs + 17 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
11 Jul 2023 Correspondence from William Wragg MP, Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, re Public Accounts Committee – Report on the AEA Technology Pension Case, dated 4 July 2023
Parliament page
17 Apr 2023 Correspondence from Tom Josephs, Director, Private Pensions and Arm’s Length Bodies Department for Work and Pensions, re DWP follow up to the Public Accounts Committee Hearing on Atomic Energy Authority Technology pension scheme 13 March 2023, dated 4 April 2023
Parliament page
17 Apr 2023 Correspondence from Martin Clarke, Government Actuary, Government Actuary’s Department, re Public Accounts Committee Hearing 13th March 2023 – AEAT Pension Scheme, dated 27 March 2023
Parliament page