Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee

Public sector pensions

Status: Closed Opened: 8 Feb 2021 Closed: 5 Aug 2021 10 recommendations 15 conclusions 1 report

As at 31 March 2020 the UK’s major public service pension schemes had over 8 million members, including active and deferred members and current pensioners – a significant part of the national pensions “landscape”. Most of the main public service pension schemes are unfunded, with pension payments paid for out of the current workforce’s contributions. … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Sixth Report - Public Sector Pensions HC 289 11 Jun 2021 25 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
15 Conclusion Sixth Report - Public Sector Pensions Deferred

Pensions play an important role in the overall remuneration package employers offer to recruit and...

Pensions play an important role in the overall remuneration package employers offer to recruit and retain staff. There is evidence that pensions affect how people chose to work which may impact frontline services. For example, the interaction between the NHS Pension Scheme rules and the tax system means a large … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government stated that individual departments are responsible for assessing where public service schemes need changes to meet workforce needs, with HM Treasury assessing proposals, thereby redirecting responsibility for the specific concerns about doctors' working patterns.
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HM Treasury
25 Conclusion Sixth Report - Public Sector Pensions Deferred

We are also concerned that HM Treasury does not specifically consider whether armed forces pension...

We are also concerned that HM Treasury does not specifically consider whether armed forces pension scheme arrangements are sufficient to support personnel when it becomes time for them to move into civilian life, which can be well before reaching “retirement age” (of 60 in the armed forces pension scheme). HM … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government stated that individual departments are responsible for assessing scheme changes to meet specific workforce needs, with HM Treasury assessing proposals for legal and fiscal implications, thereby redirecting primary responsibility.
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HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
22 Apr 2021 Cat Little · Cabinet Office, Charles Roxburgh · HM Treasury, Martin Clarke · Government Actuary’s Department (GAD), Mike Williams · HM Treasury, Sir Tom Scholar · HM Treasury View ↗

Who gave evidence

5 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Cat Little · Permanent Secretary Cabinet Office 1
Charles Roxburgh · Second Permanent Secretary HM Treasury 1
Martin Clarke · Government Actuary Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) 1
Mike Williams · Director, Business and International Tax HM Treasury 1
Sir Tom Scholar · Permanent Secretary HM Treasury 1

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
19 May 2021 Correspondence from Catherine Little, Director General Public Spending Head of …