§ Mr. HigginsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on the existence of any occupational pension scheme in the private sector not covered by contributions.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe rules of an occupational pension scheme specify whether, in addition to the employer, employee members of the scheme are required to contribute to the scheme. It is not a condition for an occupational scheme to be used for contracting-out of the state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS) that employees pay contributions. There are about 1 million members of non-contributory private sector occupational pensions schemes.