Answer:
Several judges and firefighters made claims (McCloud and Sargeant cases) in the Employment Tribunal on grounds that the transitional protection offered to older members when schemes were reformed in 2015, which meant they remained in their old pension schemes (Final Salary), was discriminatory. They argued that younger members were treated less favourably than older members who were given transitional protection.
The Court of Appeal ruled, in December 2018, that transitional protection in the judges’ and firefighters’ pension schemes gave rise to unlawful discrimination.
In July 2019, the government confirmed that they accepted that the Court of Appeal’s judgment has implications for all the main public service pensions schemes, including teachers, as these schemes also provide transitional protection arrangements for older members.
In March the government confirmed, in a written ministerial statement which can be found here (This link opens in a new window), that it would address the difference in treatment since 2015 for all affected members regardless of whether they had submitted a legal claim and ensure equal treatment going forwards.