§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many defined benefit schemes are(a) open, (b) closed to new members and (c) closed to further contributions from existing members, giving for each type of scheme the estimated number of members, in each of the past five years. [90827]
§ Mr. McCartneyThe information requested is not available. However, the Pensions Scheme Registry that is administered by the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority contains some relevant data that are shown in the table.
Defined Benefit Occupational Pension schemes, 1998–99 to 2002–03
current date. Furthermore, scheme trustees have 12 months to notify OPRA of any change to the status of an open scheme, and so some schemes currently included in the table as open may since have changed status.
'Closed' schemes are those that have become closed to new members during the year in question and remain closed as at 10 February 2003. Existing members in these schemes can continue to accrue additional pension rights. 'Frozen' schemes are those that have become closed to new accruals during the year in question and remain frozen as at 10 February 2003. The dates used for closed and frozen scheme figures relate to the effective 197W date of change as notified by schemes and recorded by the Registry. In some cases, schemes do not supply an effective date and where this has occurred the date of inputting the change onto the Registry database has been used.
Data for closed and frozen schemes refer only to the number becoming closed or frozen in the year in question, and do not represent the stock of the total number of schemes that were closed (previously closed plus newly closed in that year).
The table updates previous information used to answer earlier PQs. As referred to above, the Registry system holds information on the most recent change in scheme status and the effective date of the change. Because of the way the data are held a later change will overwrite an earlier change, so data for earlier years become increasingly inaccurate. Trustees are required to report changes within 12 months so there could be a lag between the closure or freeze of a scheme and trustees informing the Registry that the scheme has actually closed or frozen. The table reflects the most up to date data available.
Scheme members are those individuals that have accrued pension benefits and do not include those receiving pensions in payment. An individual may have pension benefits accrued in, and therefore may be a member of, more than one scheme.
Membership figures for open schemes are given at the date of registration. Membership figures for closed or frozen schemes are given at the effective date of change of status.
Cost of increasing the maximum rate payable of the basic state pension by £5,£lO,£15 and £20 per week in 2003–04 £ £5 per week £10 per week £15 per week £20 per week All pensioners 1.5 billion 3 billion 4.6 billion 6.2 billion Pensioners aged 75 and over 800 million 1.5 billion 2.3 billion 3 billion Pensioners aged 80 and over 400 million 800 million 1.2 billion 1.6 billion Notes
1. Estimates are in cash terms for Great Britain and are rounded to the nearest £100 million.
2. The estimates take account of offsetting savings in income related benefits. Income related benefit offsets are calculated using the Department for Work and Pensions Policy Simulation Model for 2003–04.
3. Calculations assume the maximum rate payable of the basic state pension is increased by the amounts specified and all other payments proportionately.
4. For modelling purposes, pension credit is assumed to be in place throughout 2003–04. In fact, pension credit will begin in October 2003.
Cost of increasing the maximum rate payable of the basic state pension to £100 per week in 2003–04 £billion All pensioners 7 Pensioners aged 75 and over 3.4 Pensioners aged 80 and over 1.9 Notes
1. Estimates are in cash terms for Great Britain and are rounded to the nearest £100 million.
2. The estimates take account of offsetting savings in income related benefits. Income related benefit offsets are calculated using the Department for Work and Pensions Policy Simulation Model for 2003–04.
3. Calculations assume the maximum rate payable of the basic state pension is increased by the amounts specified and all other payments proportionately.
198WThis information relates only to those schemes recorded on the Registry database as Defined Benefit. It does not include schemes where the benefit type is unknown or those offering a mixture of salary related and money purchase benefits.