§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will reimburse(a) in full and (b) in part the costs to the hosPlce movement of the impact of the increase in contributions to the NHS superannuation scheme; [88574]
(2) if he will make a statement on the impact the increase in the NHS superannuation scheme will have on hosPlces. [88576]
§ Ms BlearsTechnical changes to the way the national health service pension scheme is funded were included in my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor's pre-Budget report on 27 November 2002. In future, employer contributions will include the cost of indexing scheme benefits but the arrangements will be phased in, with employers charged directly from April 2004.
195WThe extra employer costs will be offset by additional health service funding. A departmental working group has been set up to develop detailed implementation plans and the position of hosPlces and other voluntary sector employers, who contribute to the scheme, will be fully considered.