To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of occupational pension schemes in the UK which (a) have completed wind-up and (b) are in the process of winding up; what proportion began wind-up after 2 May 1997 in each case; and what his estimate is of the number of members of such schemes. (154287)

The following information was provided by the pensions regulator.

(a) The number of schemes in the UK that have wound up since 2 April 1997 is 62,814

(b(i)) The number of schemes that have commenced, but not yet completed, winding up is 8,088 with a total membership of 427,456; and

(b(ii)) The number of schemes that have been winding up since 2 May 1997 is 7,804. This is 96.5 per cent. of the schemes at (b(i)). The total membership of these schemes is 411,943. This is 96.4 per cent. of the membership at (b(i)).

Notes:

1. A wound up scheme is one which has notified the pensions regulator that it has completed winding up procedures.

2. A winding up scheme is one which has notified the pensions regulator that it has commenced winding up procedures.

3. The data supplied by the pensions regulator are current as at 3 September 2007. They come from the merger of data derived from old systems (i.e. before 6 April 2005), and have been enhanced and updated with information received via the new scheme returns—which were introduced as part of the Pensions Act 2004.

4. Total membership includes active, deferred and pensioner members.