To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the NHS pension abatement rules on doctors who have been obliged to retire on the grounds of disability and who are re-employed by the NHS on a part-time contract. (200910)

Abatement is a common feature of public service pension schemes. It affects all members of the NHS Pension Scheme who receive an enhanced national health service pension funded by the scheme or their employer if they return to NHS employment. It continues until they are aged 60 for members of the 1995 scheme, or age 65 for those members of the 2008 scheme. It does not affect those who have retired on voluntary grounds with an actuarial reduction in their pension. Abatement will usually only affect those who earn more than 50 per cent. of their previous salary.