Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps is his Department taking to tackle the variations in the payment of police pensions to widows and widowers in the constituent parts of the UK.

Policing is a devolved matter in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are responsible for the design and funding of police pensions, including provisions for widows and widowers, in those parts of the United Kingdom. The Government takes decisions on public service pensions in line with its duty to ensure that public services are affordable, sustainable and fair.