Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a tax unregistered top up scheme for senior NHS workers, in line with the scheme introduced for judges from April 2022.

We have no plans to make an assessment. Due to the unique circumstances of judiciary appointments, it was necessary to reform these pension arrangements. Judges are unable to work in private practice after taking up office and many experience a significant reduction in pay to join the judiciary.

The vast majority of NHS Pension Scheme members build their pensions tax-free. For members who incur an annual allowance charge, the Scheme Pays facility is a proportionate means of allowing members to avoid paying such charges in advance.