Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference paragraph 1.40 and Table 2.1 line 1 of the Budget 2018, how much has been allocated to the NHS in each of the next five fiscal years to provide for the adjustment in NHS pension costs as a result of the SCAPE rate change.

As part of the five-year settlement for the NHS in June, the Government committed to provide additional funding of £1.25billion per year for NHS pension costs until 2023-24, and committed to adjust the level of additional funding to reflect the final SCAPE rate change. Following the confirmation of the SCAPE rate reduction to 2.4% at Budget, we will make the necessary adjustment as part of finalising the NHS settlement by the Spending Review. Provision for the adjustment in 2019/20 was made through the £4.7billion in DEL allocated to the reserve to help all departments with pressures in 2019-20 relating to the SCAPE rate changes. Provision for remaining years will be made by the Spending Review.