Northern Ireland Railways

HC Deb 04 June 1991 vol 192 c195W

Mr. Beggs

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what would be the cost of providing two years' pensionable pay when death occurs during service for employees of Northern Ireland Railways; and what is the cost of the present scheme.

Mr. Needham

Employees of Northern Ireland Railways qualify for membership of the pension scheme administered by the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee under the Superannuation (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.

The cost of providing benefits under the NILGOSC scheme is not recorded on an individual basis. It would not be possible, therefore, without an actuarial valuation to calculate the cost of providing two years' pensionable pay when death occurs during service.

The cost to existing members of the NILGOSC scheme is 5 per cent. of salary for manual employees and 6 per cent. of salary for non-manual employees with employing authorities contributing 6.2 per cent.

Employees of Northern Ireland Railways are, of course, entitled to join a private pension scheme, the benefits and cost of which may differ from the NILGOSC scheme.