FOI reference - FOI-328
Original enquiry date - 23 October 2024
Request updated - January 2025
Our original FOI response has been replaced with the updated FOI response below after the Requester provided clarification of their request for information.
Request
I am emailing on behalf of the Continuous Mortality Investigation to request some data underlying the Occupational DB landscape in the UK 2023 report.
We are hoping to estimate the market coverage of the CMI SAPS investigation. We collect mortality experience data for DB pension schemes that have more than 500 pensioners but, unfortunately, the 2023 report does not split the data for schemes with 500+ pensioners. In previous year’s, you have kindly provided some information that allows us to do this (see attached), and I am hoping you can provide an updated version of the same information please.
Is it possible to see the following information please?
| Number of pensioners in the scheme | Number of schemes | Number of pensioners |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 500 | ||
| 500 - 1,000 | ||
| 1,000 - 4,999 | ||
| 5,000 - 9,999 | ||
| 10,000+ |
It would be amazing to receive this data at one point (is 1 April easiest? We do not have a preference on the exact date) in each of the calendar years from 2016 to 2023 (i.e. to receive 8 versions of the table). But if it is only possible to receive the date for one point in time, could this please be 2023.
The Requester provided the following clarification of their request:
- It would be great to have the data for both private sector and public sector schemes, if it is possible to have this separately for each sector. Otherwise just private sector, please.
- Could I please check whether the numbers included in Figure 5 of the TPR report (e.g. 4,295,199 for 2023) relate solely to DB schemes, or include DB members of dual section hybrid schemes? We would like a breakdown in line with this approach please (e.g. if the numbers in Figure 5 are solely DB schemes, then we’d like data relating solely to DB schemes too please).
Further to receiving our original FOI response the Requester asked for the following clarification:
- TPR kindly provided us some similar information as at 1 April 2020 (I’ve attached the relevant email chain). The total number of pension schemes (as at 1 April 2020) and pensioners are broadly similar between the previous request and the new information that you have provided. But the number of schemes with over 500 pensioners (and to a lesser extent the number of pensioners in schemes with over 500 pensioners) are materially different. Could you please let me know why these two figures (997 vs. 1,670) are so different?
| 2020 request | 2024 request | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total schemes | 5,642 | 5,600 | -0.7% |
| Total members | 4,591,310 | 4,582,000 | -0.2% |
| Total schemes with over 500 pensioners | 997 | 1,670 | +67.5% |
| Total pensioners in schemes with over 500 pensioners | 4,160,033 | 4,345,000 | +4.4% |
- The total number of pensioners from 1 April 2022 to 1 April 2023 increased (4,267,000 to 4,295,000). Could you please confirm this is in line with your understanding? Given the current pensions universe, with lots of schemes moving to buyout and wind-up, this is slightly surprising. But I appreciate there could be valid reasons for this.
Response
I confirm that we hold the information you have requested.
Having reviewed our original response to your request I can confirm we misinterpreted this and segmented the data by the number of total members rather than the number of pensioner members.
Please accept our apologies for any confusion which may have resulted from this misunderstanding.
Please find the information you have requested below. This reflects the data segmented by the number of pensioner members rather than the number of total members.
2016
| Pensioner membership band | Number of schemes | Pensioner memberships |
|---|---|---|
| A: fewer than 500 | 5,210 | 455,000 |
| B: 500 to 1,000 | 360 | 255,000 |
| C: 1,000 to 4,999 | 450 | 995,000 |
| D: 5,000 to 9,999 | 100 | 702,000 |
| E: 10,000 plus | 90 | 2,265,000 |
| Total | 6,210 | 4,672,000 |
2017
| Pensioner membership band | Number of schemes | Pensioner memberships |
|---|---|---|
| A: fewer than 500 | 4,980 | 443,000 |
| B: 500 to 1,000 | 360 | 254,000 |
| C: 1,000 to 4,999 | 450 | 990,000 |
| D: 5,000 to 9,999 | 100 | 717,000 |
| E: 10,000 plus | 80 | 2,199,000 |
| Total | 5,970 | 4,603,000 |
2018
| Pensioner membership band | Number of schemes | Pensioner memberships |
|---|---|---|
| A: fewer than 500 | 4,820 | 441,000 |
| B: 500 to 1,000 | 360 | 255,000 |
| C: 1,000 to 4,999 | 460 | 1,027,000 |
| D: 5,000 to 9,999 | 90 | 672,000 |
| E: 10,000 plus | 80 | 2,191,000 |
| Total | 5,810 | 4,585,000 |
2019
| Pensioner membership band | Number of schemes | Pensioner memberships |
|---|---|---|
| A: fewer than 500 | 4,710 |
437,000 |
| B: 500 to 1,000 | 360 | 254,000 |
| C: 1,000 to 4,999 | 460 | 1,028,000 |
| D: 5,000 to 9,999 | 90 | 691,000 |
| E: 10,000 plus | 80 | 2,178,000 |
| Total | 5,700 | 4,588,000 |
2020
| Pensioner membership band | Number of schemes | Pensioner memberships |
|---|---|---|
| A: fewer than 500 | 4,610 | 431,000 |
| B: 500 to 1,000 | 380 | 265,000 |
| C: 1,000 to 4,999 | 450 | 1,018,000 |
| D: 5,000 to 9,999 | 90 | 640,000 |
| E: 10,000 plus | 80 | 2,229,000 |
| Total | 5,600 | 4,583,000 |
2021
| Pensioner membership band | Number of schemes | Pensioner memberships |
|---|---|---|
| A: fewer than 500 | 4,530 | 430,000 |
| B: 500 to 1,000 | 370 | 262,000 |
| C: 1,000 to 4,999 | 460 | 1,035,000 |
| D: 5,000 to 9,999 | 90 | 637,000 |
| E: 10,000 plus | 80 | 2,162,000 |
| Total | 5,520 | 4,526,000 |
2022
| Pensioner membership band | Number of schemes | Pensioner memberships |
|---|---|---|
| A: fewer than 500 | 4,410 | 420,000 |
| B: 500 to 1,000 | 370 | 257,000 |
| C: 1,000 to 4,999 | 440 | 993,000 |
| D: 5,000 to 9,999 | 80 | 616,000 |
| E: 10,000 plus | 70 | 1,980,000 |
| Total | 5,380 | 4,267,000 |
2023
| Pensioner membership band | Number of schemes | Pensioner memberships |
|---|---|---|
| A: fewer than 500 | 4,330 | 417,000 |
| B: 500 to 1,000 | 370 | 257,000 |
| C: 1,000 to 4,999 | 440 | 969,000 |
| D: 5,000 to 9,999 | 90 | 616,000 |
| E: 10,000 plus | 80 | 2,037,000 |
| Total | 5,300 | 4,295,000 |
Help and Advice
The data provided covers the number of schemes and the number of DB pensioner members of DB and hybrid private occupational schemes between 2016 and 2023.
The source for this data is TPR's records, based on the information received directly from the schemes in response to the mandatory Annual Scheme Return. Data is not weighted or imputed to account for non-response to the survey. Where a scheme is sectionalised or segregated each section is treated as if it were a separate scheme.
Individuals may have multiple pension entitlements spread over multiple schemes, so they may be included more than once in 'membership' counts.
Schemes included are DB and hybrid private occupational schemes and schemes excluded are DC, in the public sector, not registrable or wound up.
This data was as of TPR records on 1st April of each year between 2016 to 2023.
We have rounded scheme numbers to the nearest 10 and pensioner memberships to the nearest 1,000. For this reason, the sum of figures may not equate to the total values.