HC Deb 10 April 2002 vol 383 cc196-7W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a)active members, (b)premature retirements, (c)ill-health retirements and (d)age retirements there were from the Teachers' Pension Scheme in each of the last 10 years. [47366]

Mr. Timms

The information requested is provided in the following table. Data on active members are obtained from returns submitted by employers. Not all returns have

Financial year Active members Premature retirements Ill health retirements Actuarially reduced benefits Age retirements
1991–92 535,400 10,300 4,700 — 4,400
1992–93 532,100 12,200 4,900 — 4,400
1993–94 539,200 12,200 5,600 — 4,500
1994–95 550,300 10,600 6,100 — 4,600
1995–96 563,200 13,100 6,000 — 4,500
1996–97 557,800 16,000 6,300 — 4,500
1997–98 561,600 19,100 4,100 — 4,900
1998–99 570,600 2,900 2,700 — 5,300
1999–2000 575,700 3,100 2,700 — 5,900
2000–01 1— 3,100 3,000 900 6,100
1Not yet available

Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the contribution rate for teachers' employers will, following the next quinquennial review of the scheme by the Government Actuary, be based on a valuation that includes increases in pensions. [47368]

Mr. Timms

The valuation of the scheme currently being conducted by the Government Actuary, and future valuations, will include the cost of providing annual increases to pensions in payment.

Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment her Department has made of the impact of increased salary costs of teachers on the required contribution rate for the Teachers' Pension Scheme. [47367]

Mr. Timms

In determining the required contribution rate at each actuarial review, the Government Actuary allows for future increases in salaries arising from general salary inflation and from promotion or scale increments. Details of the most recent assumptions are included in the Government Actuary's report on the actuarial review as at 31 March 1996. The actuarial review as at 31 March 2001 will reflect increases in salaries and the extent to which they differ from the assumed increases at the 1996 review. I expect to have the Government Actuary's report on the 2001 review by the end of this year.

Mr. Damian Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the funds held by the Teacher Superannuation Fund, broken down by(a)asset type and (b)share holdings. [47751]

Mr. Timms

The Teachers' Pension Scheme is an unfunded scheme. There are, therefore, no assets or shareholdings.