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13 Jun 2008 : Column 622W—continued
Pension Protection Fund
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pension schemes became ineligible for Pension Protection Fund levies in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08. [184211]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 4 February 2008]: I apologise for the delay in replying; the information is not available in the form requested.
Section 126 of the Pensions Act 2004 and regulations made under it set out the eligibility criteria for pension protection fund levies; in broad terms, occupational pension schemes which are not money purchase schemes or otherwise exempted by legislation are eligible schemes as long as they had not begun to wind up when the PPF opened for business in April 2005.
In the 2007 update of the Purple Book—defined benefit pensions universe risk profile—published on 18 December 2007, the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) estimates that its eligible defined-benefit (DB) universe was around 7,800 schemes.
Pension schemes may become ineligible for Pension Protection Fund (PPF) levies for a number of reasons. For example, a scheme would become ineligible if its trustees entered into a compromise with the sponsoring employer to reduce the debt the employer owed the scheme, without the Board of the PPF's agreement. A scheme could also become ineligible if it only had two members and one of those died—as schemes with fewer than two members are not eligible schemes. A scheme would also cease to be an eligible scheme if it completed winding up.
The Board of the PPF only holds data on the eligible scheme universe; if a scheme is ineligible it will be recorded only with the pensions regulator. Provision of the correct information by schemes is of course essential, and the two organisations work closely together to ensure consistent data. However, if a scheme is invoiced for the pension protection levy and later demonstrates that it was ineligible, the Board will refund any sums paid.
Between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008 a total of 9,084 schemes notified the pensions regulator that the scheme had completed wind-up. Of these, 675 were defined benefit schemes and 139 were hybrid schemes, and the balance (8,270) were defined contribution schemes. 814 of these schemes (the DB and hybrid ones) would until that point have been eligible for PPF levies, providing they had not begun winding up before the PPF opened for business in April 2005.
Similar information for 2006-07 could not be provided without disproportionate cost. However, improvements in the way scheme data are collected will mean that similar information for 2007-08 and beyond will be available.
Pensioners
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) male and (b) female pensioners were resident in the UK in each year between 1997 and 2008; and how many of each are expected to be resident in the UK in each year between 2009 and 2030. [209355]
Mr. Watson: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 13 June 2008:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question regarding how many (a) male and (b) female pensioners were resident in the UK each year between 1997 and 2008, and how many of each are expected to be resident in the UK between 2009 and 2030. 1 am replying in her absence. [209355]
Provided below is a table showing the population of state pensionable age for 1997 to 2030, for the United Kingdom, by sex. The figures up to and including 2006 are population estimates.
The latest population projections are 2006-based and have been used to provide the estimated population of state pensionable age from 2007 to 2030.
These figures are based on the state pension age applicable in each year so they take into account the forthcoming increases in state pension age.
| Persons of state pensionable age( 1) by sex—United Kingdom | ||
| Millions | ||
| Males | Females | |
| (1) Between 2010 and 2020, state pension age will change from 65 years for men and 60 for women, to 65 years for both sexes. Between 2024 and 2026, state pension age will increase from 65 years to 66 years for both sexes. (2) 2006-based national population projections. | ||
TICC Ltd: Redundancy
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees were made redundant when TICC Ltd went into liquidation; how many received compensation from public funds; what the basis of calcuation of the compensation payments was; and under what statutory authority the payments were made. [189633]
Mr. Timms:
The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the previous Department of Social Security and the employment elements of the
Department for Education and Employment. The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold records relating to either the terms of the transfer of these former Department for Employment staff in 1990,or to any associated compensation payments.
Unemployment: Young People
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to tackle long-term youth unemployment; and if he will make a statement. [207830]
Mr. Timms: As a result of our successful policies, youth claimant unemployment is at a historic low. The New Deal for Young People has helped to virtually eradicate youth long-term claimant unemployment, with the numbers of young job seekers unemployed for a year or more down from 91,000 in March 1997 to 5,900 in March 2008.
The Department for Work and Pensions is working closely with the Department for Children, Schools and Families to support young people to make the transition from education and training into work and to engage with 18-year-olds with a previous history of being not in education, employment or training. From April this year 18-year-olds with any past history of being not in education, employment or training can, by agreement with their personal adviser, be fast tracked on a voluntary basis to the Gateway stage of the New Deal for Young People.
From April 2009, we will take this approach further by making fast tracking to the more intensive, adviser-led support stage of the flexible New Deal mandatory for 18-year-olds who have spent at least six months not in education, employment or training. The flexible New Deal and refreshed Jobseeker's Allowance programme will be a key element in a welfare system in which, increasingly, claimants are not passive recipients of benefits, but instead active job seekers preparing for a return to work in which they will be better off.
Welfare to Work
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what timetable has been set for agreement on funding arrangements for welfare to work proposals with HM Treasury; and if he will make a statement. [208667]
Mr. Timms: We have set out our intention to come forward with welfare reform proposals for a 4(th) session Bill, and funding decisions will be made as part of that process in conjunction with HM Treasury.
Winter Fuel Payments
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether winter fuel payments are payable to pensioners living outside the UK; and what representations he has received on this matter. [209142]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Winter fuel payments are paid to former UK residents living outside the UK but within the European economic area only if they qualified for a payment before leaving the UK.
There are regular representations on this issue in the form of correspondence and parliamentary questions. Following recent interest, I asked departmental lawyers and officials to fully re-examine the reasons for paying winter fuel payments to former UK residents now living elsewhere in the European economic area. Under European Union law, some benefits acquired in one member state must be paid to people who live outside that state but within the European economic area. Winter fuel payments are one of these benefits and the UK is bound by European Union law. To comply with European law we must continue to pay winter fuel payments to former UK residents living elsewhere in the European economic area if they qualified for a payment before leaving the UK.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to answer Questions (a) 190580 and (b) 190581, on the New Deal, tabled on 26 February. [195592]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 20 March 2008]: I replied to my right Hon. Friend’s questions as follows; to 190580 on 22 April 2008, Official Report, column 2008W and to 190581 on 25 April 2008, Official Report, column 2361-62W.
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