asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new contracting-out certificates have been issued since the introduction of the new pension scheme to occupational pension schemes not contracted-out on the date when the new scheme commenced; and how many employees are members of such schemes.

I am advised by the Occupational Pensions Board that some 22,800 contracting-out certificates have been issued in respect of over 10 million employees. The figure of 10 million is based on information given by employers on their applications to contract-out and more precise figures will be available early in 1980 when the national insurance contributions for the first year of contracting-out have been recorded.