§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many private and public occupational schemes, respectively, are estimated to require changing to meet the recognition requirements under the Social Security Act 1973 ; what percentage of the total in each case these numbers represent ; how many have already been recognised by the Occupational Pensions Board ; and how many have been submitted for review.
§ Mr. DeanThere are probably very few schemes that do not need changing in some way to meet the recognition requirements. Because of the preliminary steps which need to be taken, including the statutory requirement of two months' notice to employees, there has not yet been time for any applications for recognition to be made which satisfy the recognition tests.