HC Deb 12 June 2002 vol 386 c1292W
Matthew Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 22 April 2002,Official Report, column 92W, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollock (Mr. Davidson), on state pensions, if he will disaggregate the value of unfunded public pension liabilities by scheme; what assessment he has made of the reasons for the changes in the values of unfunded public pension liabilities in recent years; and if he will make a statement. [60807]

Mr. Boateng

The £350 billion Government Actuary's Department estimate for accrued unfunded public service pension schemes liabilities as at 31 March 2001 comprises the following:

  • £98 billion for England and Wales teachers,
  • £75 billion for England and Wales NHS,
  • £59 billion UK civil service scheme,
  • £51 billion Armed Forces,
  • £35 billion GB police and fire,
  • £10 billion Scottish teachers,
  • £6 billion Scottish NHS,
  • £16 billion for other schemes such as the Northern Irish public service schemes, overseas pensions, NDPB schemes etc.

The increase in the value of these unfunded liabilities in recent years is due to a variety of factors, the main ones being: increases in prices and salaries, a growth in the number of public servants and reassessments of mortality rates.