HC Deb 03 February 2000 vol 343 cc690-1W
Mr. Willetts

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees(a) opted-out of or (b) did not take the option to join contributory public sector pension schemes in the period 1988 to 1994 inclusive. [108002]

Mr. Andrew Smith

Complete data are not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. In the review of mis-selling of personal pensions it was estimated that around 300,000 employees may have opted out of the main public service pension schemes in this period. This figure excluded the Local Government Pension Scheme and the schemes for police and fire brigades which are administered on a decentralised basis by local authorities.

Mr. Willetts

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many employees were reinstated to non-contributory public sector pension schemes in the financial years 1996–97 to 1998–99 inclusive; [107999]

(2) how many employees were reinstated to contributory public sector pension schemes in the financial years 1996–97 to 1998–99 inclusive. [108003]

Mr. Andrew Smith

Complete data are not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. The numbers for the main public service schemes excluding those administered on a decentralised basis by local authorities are shown in the table. Information is not available on pension schemes in the wider public sector. The Armed Forces Pension Scheme is the only non-contributory public service pension scheme. Very few reinstatements were completed prior to 1997–98.

Mis-selling review—number of reinstatements into public service pensions schemes
1997–98 1 1998–99
Non-contributory scheme — —
Armed Forces 2 8
Contributory schemes — —
Teachers 1,626 4,078
National Health Service 3,290 22,448
Northern Ireland Teachers, NHS etc. 290 801
Civil Service2 16 66
Scottish Teachers and NHS 757 1,832
Total 5,981 29,233
1 Includes small number of reinstatements made in 1996–97
2 Employee contributions to the PCSPS are refundable in certain circumstances.

Mr. Willetts

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees(a) opted-out of or (b) did not take up the option to join non-contributory public sector pension schemes in the period 1988 to 1994 inclusive. [107998]

Mr. Andrew Smith

The Armed Forces Pension Scheme is the only non-contributory public service pension scheme. Entry to the scheme is automatic on employment. 83 employees opted out of the scheme in the period 1988 to 1994.