Occupational Pension Schemes

HC Deb 05 June 2000 vol 351 cc97-8W

Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are in(a) defined benefit private sector occupational pension schemes and (a) defined contribution private sector occupational pension schemes. [124508]

Mr. Rooker

The latest figures that are available are for 1995. It is estimated that there are 4.7 million active members in defined benefit private sector occupational pension schemes and about 1.1 million active members of defined contribution private sector occupational pension schemes. Additionally, there are about 0.3 million active members of private sector occupational pension schemes which have elements of both defined benefits and defined contributions.

There are an estimated 5.2 million former members with preserved pension rights in private sector occupational pension schemes. A breakdown between defined benefit and defined contribution schemes is not available. Some former members may now also be active members in another occupational pension scheme. Source: Government Actuary's Department