§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health who manages the NHS Pensioners Trust; in what way NHS pensioners are informed of its existence; on what basis grants are made; and when and where the annual accounts are published.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe National Health Service Pensioners Trust is managed independently by its trustees. All NHS pensioners were informed of the trust's existence, in its first year of operation—1991–92—by the Paymaster General's Office. Subsequently it has relied upon professional organisations, various staff groups and social work agencies to inform eligible applicants of its existence.
Grants are awarded primarily on the basis of the applicant's level of disposable income. The annual accounts are normally published in October and can be obtained from the trust at 14 Palace court, London W2 4HT.