§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the extra costs per annum of implementing the report on NHS superannuation for(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2000–02, indicating when these costs were first known. [81797]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 23 April 1999]: Increases in the employer contribution rate to the National Health Service Pension Scheme are expected to cost £165 million in 2000–2001 and £495 million in 2001–2002. These costs were anticipated and fully taken into account in the Department's comprehensive spending review settlement, in the light of findings emerging from the Government Actuary's actuarial investigation into the NHS Pension Scheme. Publication of the Government Actuary's Report has now been announced and I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Middleton (Mr. Dobbin), 9 March 1999, Official Report, column 204.