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Pension – Pension scheme. The claimant had been employed in the civil service before an outsourcing agreement resulted in the transfer of her employment to a private sector contractor. She retained her pension with the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. She was later told that, under the scheme's rules, because she had resigned from her role, she was only entitled to take her preserved pension when she reached the age of 60, and not 55 as had previously been the case. Her complaint to the Pensions Ombudsman was dismissed while her appeal to the Chancery Division was allowed. The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, allowed the Cabinet Office's appeal and held that, on the true construction of the scheme's rules, 'resignation' was to be given a wide meaning that included both voluntary and involuntary departure from the civil service, including the transfer of an undertaking to the private sector.
Pension – Pension scheme. The claimant had been employed in the civil service before an outsourcing agreement resulted in the transfer of her employment to a private sector contractor. She retained her pension with the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. She was later told that, under the scheme's rules, because she had resigned from her role, she was only entitled to take her preserved pension when she reached the age of 60, and not 55 as had previously been the case. Her complaint to the Pensions Ombudsman was dismissed while her appeal to the Chancery Division was allowed. The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, allowed the Cabinet Office's appeal and held that, on the true construction of the scheme's rules, 'resignation' was to be given a wide meaning that included both voluntary and involuntary departure from the civil service, including the transfer of an undertaking to the private sector.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts
For one night only at Middle Temple Hall (Sunday 26 July 2026) – Abigail Bright introduces the famed annual fundraising theatrical event. This year, Martin Shaw and Jason Watkins perform John Mortimer’s The Dock Brief, a mixture of farce and pathos and all in support of the work of the Kalisher Trust in its 30th year
