Speaking from his Birmingham Hall Green constituency Roger said: “I have consistently opposed Coalition proposals to change pension arrangements for public servants and shall be voting against the Pensions Bill. Many people who chose to work in the public sector did so because they knew they were receiving less favourable pay but could look forward to decent pensions when they retired. There was, therefore, a trade-off between lower pay for enhanced pensions.”
Roger went on to say: “For the Government to now come and change ‘the goal posts’ on pensions is a breach of this unwritten contract and I have opposed these proposals. There is a genuine problem over funding of public sector pensions but this should be addressed by changing terms and conditions for new entrants into public service and not by devaluing existing contracts of staff who have worked in the public service for many years and are looking forward, quite understandably, to receiving the pension they were promised at the retirement age which they were also promised.”
Roger has also signed an HM Government e-petition on protecting police pensions:
“We call on Government to recognise the absolute uniqueness of the role of Police Officer and to Protect Police Pensions from an unfair attack by retaining the current level of contributions, not extending the time needed to work before claiming and to retain the current conditions of the Police Pension Scheme.”

This article appeared in the December edition of Roger's newsletter 'Postcard from Parliament'