Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much was paid to retired teachers in pension payments in 2024; and what estimate they have made of the total pension payments to retired teachers in (1) 2040, and (2) 2050.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

A total of £2.921 billion was paid by members into the Teachers’ Pension Scheme in the 2024/25 financial year, and £8.866 billion was paid by employers over the same period.

In the 2024/25 financial year, £10.253 billion was paid to retired members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

The Teachers’ Pension Scheme does not produce long‑term forecasts beyond its normal planning horizon. Estimates for 2040 and 2050 are therefore not available.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much in total was paid to the Teachers' Pension Scheme by (1) teachers, and (2) employers, in 2024.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

A total of £2.921 billion was paid by members into the Teachers’ Pension Scheme in the 2024/25 financial year, and £8.866 billion was paid by employers over the same period.

In the 2024/25 financial year, £10.253 billion was paid to retired members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

The Teachers’ Pension Scheme does not produce long‑term forecasts beyond its normal planning horizon. Estimates for 2040 and 2050 are therefore not available.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) NHS-employed doctors, and (2) self-employed GPs who are members of the NHS pension plan, who retired in (a) 2022, (b) 2023, and (c) 2024, were (i) 60 years old and younger, (ii) 61–67 years old, and (iii) 68 years old and over.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The following table shows the number of National Health Service employed doctors, and self-employed general practitioners (GPs) who are members of the NHS pension plan, who retired in 2022, 2023, or 2024, and who were aged 60 years old and younger, 61 to 67 years old, or 68 years old and over:

The data is unpublished and is provided by the NHS Business Services Authority which administers the NHS Pension Scheme. Normal pension ages vary across the NHS Pension Schemes. In the 1995 section of the legacy scheme, the normal pension age is 60 years old, and in the 2008 section of that scheme, it is 65 years old. In both these sections, actuarially reduced benefits can be taken from 55 years old, or 50 years old in some cases. In the 2015 scheme, the normal pension age is 65 years old or State Pension age, whichever is later, and reduced benefits can be accessed from 55 years old.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much was paid out to NHS pension scheme members in (1) 2023, and (2) 2024.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The following table shows the value of pension benefits paid to NHS Pension Scheme members in financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25:

These figures comprise the value of annual pensions and lump sums paid. It does not include other payments made by the scheme such as contribution refunds or pension tax payments to HM Revenue and Customs.

Annual accounts for the scheme are published for each financial year and record the total value of all payments made. The annual accounts are available on the GOV.UK website and on the NHS Business Service Authority’s website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much was paid into the NHS pension scheme by (1) NHS employers, and (2) NHS pension scheme members, in (a) 2023, and (2) 2024.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The following table shows how much was paid into the NHS Pension Scheme in the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25, broken down by the contributions paid into the scheme by employees and employers:

The employee contribution figures include the standard employee contributions, added years, additional pension purchases, and early retirement reduction buy‑out contributions. The employer contribution figures include National Health Service employer contributions for exiting staff, as well as other contributions payable on retirement/redundancy.

Annual accounts for the scheme are published for each financial year online and record the total value of all payments made. The annual accounts are available on the GOV.UK website and on the NHS Business Service Authority’s website.