People with “accumulated rights” would be entitled to current levels of state pension in an independent Scotland, according to Minister for Pensions Steve Webb.

Speaking to the Scottish Affairs Committee on Tuesday, the Minister said people could be assured their pensions would be secure if Scotland votes for independence in September’s referendum.

“They have accumulated rights into the UK system, under the UK system’s rules,” Webb said.

However, he said there are still questions over which government will pay the money.

The Minister added the money would be paid out at the pension age decided by the UK government, rather than any future Scottish government.

“Take a Scottish person who works all their life and then retires to France… they still have an accumulated pension right in respect of the National Insurance they have paid in when they were part of the United Kingdom,” Webb said.

He added citizenship is “irrelevant” and it is about what people put into the UK National Insurance system prior to separation.

Webb said those who have contributed are “entitled” to the money, but the question surrounds who will pay for it and how the cost is split.

Share Story: