(2) how many schemes approved for the Financial Assistance Scheme that provided initial estimates of numbers of members in their schemes had (a) fewer than 50, (b) fewer than 100, (c) between 101 and 200, (d) between 101 and 250, (e) between 201 and 500, (f) between 251 and 500, (g) between 501 and 1500 and (h) over 1501 members.
Up to and including 12 January 2007, 627 pension schemes that have qualified for the Financial Assistance Scheme have provided estimates of the number of members in their schemes. The breakdown is not available in the format requested, but such information as is available is in the following table.
Number of members Number of schemes 0-50 208 51-100 135 101-200 94 201-500 113 500-1,500 56 Over 1,500 21 Total 627
As at 12 January 2007, the average amount of monthly pension being received by eligible members from the Financial Assistance Scheme for 2006-07 is as follows:
For members receiving annual payments:
(a) before tax = £193.00 per month
(b) after tax = £150.64 per month
For members receiving initial payments:
i) before tax = £180.36 per month
ii) after tax = £141.06 per month
The figures are for 2006-07 only as figures for 2005-06 are not available without arrears. Given the low numbers paid in that year this does not make a significant difference to the answer.
The information is not available to answer this question.
As at 12 January 2007, since its inception, the Financial Assistance Scheme had paid out a total of £2,726,811 gross (£2,116,043 net) to 788 qualifying members. In addition, payments will be made to a further 193 people when they reach age 65.