§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals contribute to(a) defined benefit occupational pension schemes, (b) defined contribution occupational pension schemes, (c) group personal pension schemes, (d) additional voluntary contributions and (e) free-standing additional voluntary contributions. [1141]
§ Mr. McCartneyI have been asked to reply.
The latest information available is in the table.
million Type of pension provision Number of active members Defined benefit schemes 8.8 Defined contribution schemes 1.1 'Hybrid' schemes1 0.3 Group Personal Pensions 1.4 Additional Voluntary Contributions 0.9 Free Standing Additional Voluntary Contributions 1.4 1 Mixed defined benefit/defined contribution Notes:
1. All figures are rounded to nearest 0.1 million
2. Active members are those currently accruing pension rights
3. The information on occupational pension schemes is drawn from the Government Actuary's Department (GAD) Survey of Occupational Pension Schemes (1995). The number of members will include those whose scheme does not currently require member contributions. It is estimated that the number of members contributing are 8.2 million for defined benefit and 0.8 million for defined contribution schemes.
4. The information on Group Personal Pensions is drawn from the New Earnings Survey (2000).
5. The information for Additional Voluntary Contributions covers private sector schemes only.
6. The information on Free Standing Additional Voluntary Contributions is drawn from Inland Revenue Statistics (2000). Individuals can have more than one Free Standing Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.