HC Deb 23 May 2002 vol 386 cc545-6W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) for each of the past five years, how many people were contracted out of SERPS; and what proportion of the workforce were contracted out; [58521]

(2) how many people are contracted out of the additional pension; and what the equivalent number was in each of the last five years. [58522]

(3) how many and what proportion of the workforce are contracted out of the additional pension, broken down by level of income. [58523]

(4) for each (a) month and (b) quarter over the past four years, how many people were contracted out of SERPS; and what proportion of the workforce are contracted out. [58524]

Mr. McCartney

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out as follows:

The number of people who were contracted out of the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme in 1995–96, the latest year for which figures are available, is 14.8 million. The workforce for the same year was 28.7 million; the proportion of the workforce estimated to be contracted out of the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme was 52 per cent.

Note: Workforce means "economically active people" which is defined in the "Labour Force Survey" as being all those who are either in employment or unemployed.

Source: Second Tier Pension Provision 1995–96" and "Labour Force Survey"—Department for Work and Pensions' Analytical Services Division.