Scottish NHS pension scheme statistics: FOI release

Information requested

I would like to know the following stats for the Scottish NHS pension scheme

1 - What percentage of pension statements from this scheme are sent out on time every year for past 5 years

2 - How many requests for pension statements are currently waiting to be answered/completed

3 - What sanctions exist/ targets exist for this service in regards to providing members with annual pension statements.

4 - Has any member made a case against the authority for expenses incurred as a consequence of delay with the provision of statements?

5 - What budget cuts from central funding have the authority had to manage in the past five years? 

6 - What is the current number of unfilled posts in the authorities personal team. 

7 - How many staff work towards/are directly employed with the task of providing pension statements to members? What has been the number for the past 5 years.

Response

1. What percentage of pension statements from this scheme are sent out on time every year for past 5 years?

The legislative measurement of issuing Annual Benefit Statements on-time i.e. by 31 August only came in to place from 31 August 2016 as a result of the 2015 Pension Reforms. We are only able to provide data from this date covering the last 3 years.

Date / Year	% Answered on time
31 August 2016	77.15%
31 August 2017	85.64%
31 August 2018	94.20%

2. How many requests for pension statements are currently waiting to be answered/completed?

Five.

3. What sanctions exist/ targets exist for this service in regards to providing members with annual pension statements?

The SPPA must provide 100% of eligible active members with an Annual Benefit Statement by 31 August each year which is a legislative requirement. The Pension Regulator is responsible for regulations of all pension schemes and administrators.

4. Has any member made a case against the authority for expenses incurred as a consequence of delay with the provision of statements?

There have been no complaints/cases regarding the above. 

5. What budget cuts from central funding have the authority had to manage in the past five years? 

For information on the SPPA budget from 2014-15 to 2018-19 please refer to the following links:

2018-19
https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-budget-documents-2018-19-spring-budget-revision-budget-scotland-act-year-ending-31-march-2019/pages/5/

2017-18
https://www.gov.scot/publications/2017-18-spring-budget-revision-supporting-document/pages/12/

2016-17
https://www.gov.scot/publications/2016-17-spring-budget-revision-supporting-document/pages/9/

2015-16
https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20170108062304/http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/01/3950/3

2014-15
https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20170116071417/http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/02/5588/3

6. What is the current number of unfilled posts in the authorities personal team? 

We clarified with yourself the meaning of the “personal team.” You replied that you were looking for further information about the team that compiled, created and dealt with delivering annual statements. 

The SPPA set up a team of 6-7 staff specifically to deal with Annual Benefit Statements on an annual basis.  As this team is not permanent, and the roles are filled based on the needs of the project, there are no unfilled posts or vacancies. 

7. How many staff work towards/are directly employed with the task of providing pension statements to members? What has been the number for the past 5 years.

Over the past 5 years, the SPPA has set up a team of 6-7 staff specifically to compile, create and deliver Annual Benefit Statements on an annual basis.

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