The Westminster Pension Board has received positive updates on the progress of the McCloud remedy, a complex remediation scheme stemming from original pension changes in 2015 that were subsequently reversed due to age discrimination findings.
During a meeting on Thursday, July 9, 2026, the board was informed that the McCloud remedy project remains on track for the 2026 Annual Benefit Statement, with only a small number of residual cases outstanding. Diana McDonnell-Pascoe, Pension Project and Governance Lead, confirmed that while some cohorts are dependent on external data and guidance, particularly from the Teachers' Pension Scheme and the Government Actuarial Department (GAD), the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) side of the remedy is progressing as expected.
The McCloud remedy programme is largely complete and has transitioned into business-as-usual activity, with a small number of remaining cases. As at the latest quarterly update (April 2026), most cohorts were complete, with a limited number of pensioner cases outstanding and some dependency on external data and GAD guidance.
The main outstanding cohort are pensioners, and these are being processed. The expectation is that all pensioner cases will be completed by the end of August 2026, as this is the only cohort currently being worked on and it is under the fund's control. So I do expect all the pensioners to be completed because that's under our control and it is the only cohort they are working on. Whereas before they would have been working on about five other cohorts. So I do expect it to be done. I would be surprised if it isn't.
However, progress on other cohorts is dependent on external data and guidance that is not currently available. The other cohorts, we cannot move. So even if we wanted to, we cannot move on them.
This issue arises from legislative change rather than administrative error. Specifically, certain cases were awaiting further clarification, including GAD guidance and information from other schemes, before administrative action could proceed.
For the LGPS side of the McCloud remedy, everything is on track for this year
with a small number of residual cases. The McCloud remedy is essentially the remediation scheme resulting from the original pension changes in 2015, which were effectively reversed out, and that's the process that's being undertaken because the McCloud judgment changed underpin calculations following findings of age discrimination.
Further details on the pension board meeting can be found in the Public reports pack. The agenda and draft minutes are also available.
