NIPS Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13 - Department of Justice

2012-2013
3. Staff Numbers and Related Costs (continued)
A new valuation scheme based on data as at 31 March 2012 is currently being undertaken by the Actuary to
review employer contribution rates for the introduction of a new career average earning scheme from April
2015. From 2013-14, the rates will remain in the range 18% to 25%. The contribution rates are set to meet
the costs of the benefits accruing during 2012-13 to be paid when the member retires, and not the benefits
paid during this period to existing pensioners.
Employees can opt to open a partnership pension account, a stakeholder pension with an employer
contribution. Employer’s contributions of £28,488 (2011-12: £38,338) were paid to one or more of the panel
of three appointed stakeholder pension providers. Employer’s contributions are age-related and range from
3% to 12.5% of pensionable pay. Employers also match employee contributions up to 3% of pensionable pay.
In addition, employer contributions of £1,820 (2011-12: £2,140), 0.8% of pensionable pay, were payable to
the PCSPS(NI) to cover the cost of the future provision of lump sum benefits on death in service and ill health
retirement of these employees.
Contributions due to the partnership pension providers at the reporting period date were £nil. Contributions
prepaid at that date were £nil.
Ill Health retirement
17 persons (2011-12: 20 persons) retired early on ill health grounds; the total additional accrued pension
Liabilities in the year amounted to £20,585 (2011-12: £36,688)
Average number of persons employed
The average number of whole-time equivalent persons employed in the year to date was as follows:
Number
2012-13 2011-12
Total Permanent Others Total
Staff
Administration staff
Uniformed grades 83 83 - 37
Administration and support 210 207 3 195
Staff engaged on capital projects 1 1 - 1
Total number of administration staff 294 291 3 233
Programme staff
Uniformed grades 1,432 1,432 - 1,707
Administration and support 259 249 10 261
Staff engaged on capital projects - - - -
Total number of programme staff 1,691 1,681 10 1,968
Total number of staff 1,985 1,972 13 2,201
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