asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What is the number of occupational pension schemes in wind-up which (a) have applied for assistance under the financial assistance scheme; (b) are currently under assessment by the Pension Protection Fund. [HL741]

(a) Up to and including 1 December 2006, 630 schemes have successfully qualified for the financial assistance scheme (FAS), of which 529 schemes are winding up and 101 schemes have wound up. One hundred and eighty-nine schemes have not qualified for FAS, making a total of 819 schemes. A further 172 schemes have provided FAS with basic details but have not gone on to provide the information needed for us to be able to make a decision on qualification.

As completing wind-up can take a number of years, FAS can make discretionary initial payments that enable us to start paying some money to qualifying members or their survivors who become entitled to assistance before their scheme has completed winding up.

(b) As at 1 December 2006, there were 130 schemes in an assessment period with the Pension Protection Fund. A further three schemes completed their assessment period during November 2006 and have now entered the PPF. Their members are receiving PPF compensation. Schemes in an assessment period are not in wind-up. Section 135 of the Pensions Act 2004 prevents schemes in assessment being wound up except in specific, very limited circumstances.