Written question asked by Gerald Howarth (Conservative) on Thursday, 12 December 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 January 2003. It was answered by John Healey (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 January 2003 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the net present value is of the Government's liability for pensions to be paid to its employees in (a) the public sector as a whole and (b) in the Ministry of Defence; in each case how much of this has been funded; and whether provision has been made for it in the Government's accounts - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the net present value is of the Government's liability for pensions to be paid to its employees in (a) the public sector as a whole and (b) in the Ministry of Defence; in each case how much of this has been funded; and whether provision has been made for it in the Government's accounts. [87759] John Healey: I have been asked to reply. The Government Actuary's Department estimate that the unfunded public service pension scheme liabilities are approximately £380 billion as at 31 March 2002. It is not possible to separate out the liabilities relating to civil servants working for the Ministry of Defence, but the liabilities of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme covering armed forces personnel is £53.5 billion. The liabilities of the major public service schemes are reported in Resource Accounts, and from 2003-04, the liabilities of the smaller schemes will be incorporated into the balance sheets of employers who are mainly non-departmental public bodies.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 87759; 397 c172W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Armed forces Civil servants Liability Workplace pensions Pensions Public sector Ministry of Defence
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk