asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will change the situation whereby employed persons serving on local authorities and in receipt of attendance allowances, and whose pay is made up to basic earnings in respect of time off work on council duties, suffer a loss of ultimate pension entitlement because the attendance allowance element is disregarded.

I understand that only a very small proportion of councillors are affected in this way and that many employers protect the pension rights of councillor employees from loss as a result of absence on council business. I do not believe that this is a suitable matter for legislation.