To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will amend the Teachers' Superannuation Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 to allow teachers from independent schools to join the Northern Ireland Teachers' Superannuation Scheme; and what estimate he has made of the number of teachers affected as a result of the exclusion of independent schools from the scheme. (129666)

The Teachers' Pensions etc (Reform Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007, coming into operation on 1 April 2007, make provision for teachers in an independent school to join the Northern Ireland Teachers' Superannuation Scheme, subject to certain conditions being met by the governing body.

There are currently 18 independent schools in Northern Ireland employing approximately 158 teachers.