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.....Pensions....


J.Lyons pensions are now being handled by the successor company Allied Domecq Ltd. If you have questions about pensions I suggest you contact them at the following address.

Allied Domecq Pensions,
c/o Aon Hewitt,
PO Box 196,
Huddersfield.
HD8 1EG

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0845 600 9680

Allied-Lyons plc New Pension Scheme

In January 1980, J. Lyons & Co employees were invited to join a new Allied-Lyons plc pension scheme. This scheme was not only made available to Lyons employees but Allied Breweries staff were also eligible to join since it had improvements over their previous scheme. It is not known how many of the Lyons staff elected to stay in the old J. Lyons & Co Pension Scheme, there were some, but the vast majority elected to transfer. The comparisons below of the two pension schemes apply to the main pension fund schemes.

J. Lyons & Co

Allied Breweries 1980

Pension Scheme

B Scheme (note 3)

A Scheme (note 3)

What counts as pensionable earnings

All earnings in each pay period less an amount equal to 1.1/2 times the State Flat Rate Benefit (old age pension at that time £23.30 a week, so 1.1/2 times = £34.95 a week) over the same period.

All earnings in each pay period less an amount equal to the State Flat Rate Benefit (at that time £23.30 a week) over the same period.

Same as B Scheme

Member's Contribution

4.1/2% on all earnings, less an amount equal to State Flat Rate Benefit, with an additional 2.1/2% from those earning more than £135 per week.

2.1/2% of pensionable earnings.

4.1/2% of pensionable earnings.

Member's Pension

1/60th of final pensionable earnings for each year of pensionable service.

1/80th of final pensionable earnings for each year of service after 5 April 1980, plus pre 6 April 1980 entitlement.

1/60th of final pensionable earnings for each year of service after 5 April 1980 plus pre 6 April 1980 pension entitlement. For those who have been B Scheme members that service will count for 1/60th as though it had been A Scheme service.

Leaver's Benefits

Deferred pension escalated at 3% a year or, if a member wishes and where permitted, bought back into the state scheme, plus refund

Bought back into State scheme.

Same as J. Lyons Fund.

Death in Service

(a) Lump sum

From two to four times PAYE earnings in last tax year, plus return of contributions

A sum equal to PAYE earnings in last tax year.

A sum equal to twice PAYE earnings in last tax year

(b)Widow/
widower/dependent pension

None

Half the member's pension

Half the member's pension

(c) Dependent child allowance

None

1 child: 1/2 widow pension. 2-3 children 1/3 widows pension for each child

As for B Scheme

Death in Retirement
(a) Lump sum

None

£500

£500

(b) Widow pension

Widow only: 1/2 member's initial pension entitlement

As for death in service

As for death in service

(c) Dependent child allowance

None

As for death in service

As for death in service

Escalation of pension

3% a year

3% a year

3% a year

Normal retirement date

65th birthday (male) 60th birthday (female)

First day of month following attainment of age 65 (male) 60 (female)

As for B Scheme.


Notes.

1. The Allied Breweries 1980 Pension Scheme was a new scheme which was offered to staff throughout Allied and Lyons.

2. The scheme and its benefits did not start until 6 April 1980 and all those who elected to join received a personal pension payable under existing arrangements in respect of service before April 6 1980 and the provisions of the new scheme applied only to that part of a person's service after 5 April 1980.

3. The new 1980 Scheme had two categories, A & B. The B category was for staff in their first two years of service and those who joined a company in Allied after they had reached the age of 51, but did not apply to people in service at 31 August 1979. The A category was for staff with more than two years service provided they joined before reaching age 51.

4. The term 'final pensionable earnings' meant the the average of three best consecutive years of pensionable earnings in the last ten years of service.

Of the total number of employees in the Lyons Pension Fund in 1980 a few, counted in the low hundreds, declined to transfer to the new scheme.

The Lyons Pensions Office at Cadby Hall closed at the end of December 1980 when all work was transferred to the Allied Breweries Pension Trust, Denmark Street, Bristol. Michael Williams, Assistant Schemes Controller, was in charge of Lyons' pension matters. Alan Wise, who moved from Lyons Pension Fund to Allied Breweries Pension Trust in 1979 but remained in charge of the Pensions Office at Cadby Hall, continued to work in Allied Breweries Pension Trust based in Allied House, St John Street, London. Other members of the Lyons Pensions Office were redeployed elsewhere in Lyons, with Lorna Josey - one of the most ablest of the Pension Office staff - going the Divisional Personnel Services.

© Peter Bird 2003

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