To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of staff in her Department are making additional voluntary contributions to their pension. (72992)

Members of the principal civil service pension scheme (PCSPS) can pay additional contributions to top up their pension either through the civil service additional voluntary contributions scheme (CSAVCS), a money purchase arrangement, or by buying added years of service in the PCSPS. As an alternative to membership of the PCSPS recruits from 1 October 2002 have been able to join a stakeholder arrangement, the partnership pension account.

The number and percentage of staff in the Department who are making additional voluntary contributions to their pension as at 30 April 2006 is shown in the table.