To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any engagement her Department has had with the (i) Northern Ireland Policing Board; and (ii) PSNI, regarding delays in implementing the McCloud pension remedy for retired police officers.

The police pension oversight structure in Northern Ireland is governed by a tripartite framework established under the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014. It comprises of three tiers:

Scheme Manager: The Northern Ireland Policing Board (the Board) is designated as the scheme manager, with statutory responsibility to manage and administer police pensions and injury benefits.

Police Pension Board: This board assists the Scheme Manager in securing the effective and efficient administration of the schemes. It consists of an independent chair, equal numbers of employer (PSNI) and employee representatives, and an independent member.

Scheme Advisory Board: This body provides advice to my Department

regarding the desirability of any major changes to the police pension scheme rules. Both the PSNI and the Board are represented on this Board.

Day-to-day administration is delegated by the Board to the PSNI Pensions Branch.

The Board advised my Department that the PSNI would not meet the 31 March 2025 target for the release of Remediable Service Statements (RSS). There is discretion within the legislation for the Board as Scheme Manager, to extend the timeline beyond 31st March. Following discussions between the Board and the PSNI, a decision was taken to exercise the available legislative discretion. The Board subsequently notified both the Pensions Regulator and my Department of this decision.

My Department will continue to liaise with both the Board and PSNI in relation to the matter.