§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all categories of staff working in the NHS who are not eligible to join the NHS pension scheme and the number of people currently in each category; what estimate he makes of the extra public expenditure that would be involved in giving full NHS pension scheme eligibility to each of these categories; and if he will make a statement. [35086]
§ Mr. MaloneAll staff employed by the national health service are eligible to join the NHS pension scheme. Others who work in the NHS such as chairmen of trusts and health authorities, some self-employed contractors and the staff of contractors are not eligible. The costs for492W each group would depend upon take-up, whether this scheme would replace current pension arrangements and the salaries of the staff concerned, as well as the factors set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Pickthall) on 26 June at columns 147–48.