§ Mr. Fatchettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money he has allocated to cover the pension entitlements in the 1984–85 financial year of those National Health Service employees made redundant as a result of privatisation.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe pension entitlements of staff leaving as a consequence of competitive tendering arrangements cannot be separately identified from the entitlements of staff leaving for other reasons.
§ Mr. Fatchettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to encourage private contractors, who take over National Health Service work as a result of privatisation, to provide a pension scheme no less favourable than that offered by the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe pension provisions which private contractors make for their employees are not a matter for us.
§ Mr. Fatchettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to safeguard the pension rights of National Health Service employees made redundant as a result of privatisation.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAt the moment, the normal arrangements apply. These include provisions for employees made redundant under the age of 50 with more than five years' service to have their pension rights under the NHS superannuation scheme preserved. Those aged 50 or over with more than five years' service are entitled to the normal benefits payable on premature retirement including, where appropriate, enhancement of those benefits. I believe that these arrangements are extremely generous, particularly as in practice many of those entitled to these benefits may obtain immediate employment with the private contractor who takes over responsibility for the support service.