HC Deb 19 November 1996 vol 285 cc507-8W
Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State. for Northern Ireland what percentage of people in Northern Ireland have been members of(a) private pension schemes and (b) occupational pension schemes in each of the last 10 years. [3859]

Mr. Moss

The total number of people in private pension schemes and occupational pension schemes in Northern Ireland is not available. However, information on the number of people with an appropriate personal pension—APP—used to contract out of the state scheme, and the number of people paying contracted-out contributions, is available. Data on private pensions or occupational pensions which are not contracted-out are not held by the Department of Social Security.

The information is given in the table:

Year APP (thousands) Percentage of Workforce Percentage of population
1984–85
1985–86
1986–87
1987–88 70 10.4 6.2
1989–90 71 10.4 6.2
1990–91 85 12.3 7.4
1991–92 99 14.3 8.6
1992–93 110 15.9 9.6
1993–94 117 16.9 9.9
1994–95 121 17.7 10.2
1995–96 119 17.2 10.0
Year Contracted out (thousands) Percentage of Workforce Percentage of population
1984–85 219
1985–86 218
1986–87 221
1987–88 225
1988–89 251
1989–90 251
1990–91 245
1991–92 240
1992–93 235
1993–94 227
1994–95 225