BMA report claims Pensions Bill will ‘entrench disparities’

The British Medical Association (BMA) has dissected the government's Public Service Pensions Bill in an in-depth report aimed at pointing out its flaws.

Due to have its second reading this month, the bill will end final salary schemes for most public sector workers and raise the pension age to 68, with sharp increases in contribution rates set to accompany the legislation.

According to the BMA's analysis, the new changes are being pushed through too hastily, despite the lack of consideration they give to the differences between various public sector bodies and the current savings being delivered through NHS reforms.

Further concerns were raised over the fact that most doctors will need to pay much more for their pensions than other public sector workers, as well as the fact that the bill would give the government power to make further sweeping changes in future.

Dr Mark Porter, chair of the BMA Council, said: "If the government is serious about creating a coherent approach to public sector pensions, it needs to tackle this unfairness rather than entrench it."

This comes after the organisation last week called for the ongoing pay freeze for doctors to be lifted.