Background to the report

As an employer, the government provides public service employees with access to occupational pension schemes. As at 31 March 2020, there were more than 8 million members of four of the largest public service pension schemes (the armed forces, civil service, NHS and teachers’ pension schemes), of which 2.8 million were retired and receiving pension benefits and 5.2 million were either current or former employees. Around 25% of pensioners and 16% of the working-age population are members of a public service pension scheme.

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In general, public service pensions have become more expensive over time as the number of people receiving them has increased, owing to more members entering retirement and living longer. This trend applies across public and private pensions and is consistent with international experience. In 2010 the government established the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission, chaired by Lord Hutton (the Hutton Review) to undertake a fundamental structural review of public service pensions. Following the Hutton Review final report in March 2011, and a period of negotiations with trade unions representing public service employees, the government introduced reforms intended to manage the future costs of providing pensions.

Scope of the report

This report outlines how the public service pensions landscape has changed since the Hutton Review and highlights key challenges for the future. We examine data from the four largest pay-as-you-go pension schemes (NHS, teachers, civil service and armed forces) across the past 20 years to draw out long-term trends in pension costs and benefits.

State pensions and private sector pensions are outside the scope of this study, as are the schemes of privatised industries, such as the Royal Mail, or bodies that receive substantial public money but operate independently, such as the BBC. We do not make a judgement on whether public service pensions are affordable, as we consider this a policy decision.

The report is structured as follows:

  • Part One provides background on public service pensions, covering the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, recent reforms and how performance is measured.
  • Part Two outlines recent long-term trends in pension costs and benefits as well as future projections.
  • Part Three highlights future challenges, including the age discrimination case resulting from the 2011–2015 pension reforms, the government’s mechanism for assessing affordability and the role of pensions in recruitment and retention.
  • The Appendices set out our audit approach and evidence base.

Report conclusions

Public service pensions are a notable benefit to public servants. HM Treasury focuses on the affordability of these pensions and who pays for them. The total costs of providing pensions have been increasing over time, reflecting increasing numbers of pensioners. The government’s pension reforms over recent years have contained the rise in future taxpayer costs by making pensions less generous and by increasing contributions from employees. However, taxpayer funding has increased and it will take decades for the full effects of the 2011–2015 reforms to be seen in the government’s affordability measure. The balance of taxpayer funding has shifted from central payments by HM Treasury to employer contributions by departments and organisations to ensure that employers bear the consequences of their employment decisions.

However, HM Treasury needs to monitor more than just affordability. Government’s approach to protecting those nearest retirement has been ruled unlawful and will cost time and money to resolve. The government’s reforms also take no account of pensions as a recruitment and retention tool, with pensions continuing to be relatively inflexible; the only real choice for most employees is to stay in the scheme or opt out altogether.

“Public service pensions have become more expensive over time as the number of people receiving them has increased, with more members entering retirement and living longer. HM Treasury's reforms will help to contain future increases in costs for taxpayers.”

“As well as managing the implementation of the changes made necessary by the McCloud judgment, HM Treasury should consider how to ensure that pensions remain attractive to public servants, particular younger staff and those on lower incomes.”

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO

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Press release

View press release (19 Mar 2021)

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