This Scheme was virtually a second 'first' in that, apart from one or two authorities that had set up schemes by private legislation, there was no general provision nationally. The Local Government and Other Officers Superannuation Act 1922, however, first introduced this, which was permissive, although many local authorities adopted the provisions for officers only.

Superannuation was further extended by the Local Government Superannuation Act 1937, which was compulsory on all local authorities and provided superannuation for officers, but only on a discretionary basis for servants (to use the terms of the day!).

Local government superannuation funds following the Manchester pattern were also funded from the outset, whereas the Civil Service Scheme was unfunded and was financed on a pay as you go basis. In 1948 there were certain moves to unfund local government pensions and a Parliamentary Bill was produced by Bedford County Council to provide for this. 

There was never a lot of support and such as there was fell away and the Bill failed, thereby providing for local government funds to remain funded - I am sure all will agree that this was most desirable for the security of benefits and sound finance.

The third 'first' for Manchester was when it realised that a shortcoming in the Superannuation Fund was the absence of benefits for widows and children on death before retirement. At the time the only dependents' benefits available were widows' benefits after retirement, which could only be obtained by the member retiring in good health and surrendering part of his pension. Accordingly the Corporation drew up a Scheme in 1939 to provide widows' and children's benefits and a Trust Deed was executed on 3 April 1939 authorising a scheme to be introduced as from 1 April 1939.

The Scheme operated as an entirely separate fund from the Manchester Superannuation Fund and provided benefits to widows and children, and included deaths that occurred due to enemy action in the Second World War. Extension of the benefits to include widows' and lump sum retirement benefits were not introduced generally until the Local Government Superannuation Act of 1953 when these benefits became available to all local authority funds.

On the appointed day members had the option of retaining their existing benefits, or alternatively moving over to the new benefits. Corresponding benefits were introduced in the Manchester Scheme by its own local legislation.

Meanwhile the Manchester Municipal Officers, Widows and Orphans Pension Fund continued and members were able to receive dependants' benefits on death from both the Manchester Superannuation Fund and the Widows and Orphans Fund.  The Fund continued even after the introduction of the Metropolitan Counties in 1974, but it was not extended to employees of other authorities, being limited to those of the City of Manchester. It was wound up in the 1990s though, the contributions being repaid to such members as could be identified and annuities purchased from an insurance company for beneficiaries.

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