Occupational scheme exclusion from gender neutrality confirmed

In a consultation response to the European Court of Justice ruling that insurance benefits and premiums after 21 December should be gender-neutral, the government said industry fears over the creation of a "two tiered annuity market" were grave enough to extend the Equality Act to cover work-based pension schemes. The response said: "We acknowledge the concerns of those who believe that the judgment will result in a two tiered annuity market and that such a market will be detrimental to consumers and industry. Some respondents to the consultation have called for the government to extend ...