To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of police pension payments (a) was in each of the last five financial years and (b) is projected to be in each of the next five financial years.

Before 2006-07 police pensions were paid out of forces' operating accounts. Information about the level of pensions expenditure net of officer contributions is included in the annual reports published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). This information is gathered independently of the Home Office.

Since 2006-07, forces have paid police pensions out of a pensions account into which are paid officers' contributions and the employer's contribution. Where the pensions account does not have enough funds to meet the costs of pensions in any year it is topped up with grant from central Government; any surplus is recouped. The following table gives expenditure information in relation to England and Wales.

The Government Actuary's Department is currently reviewing its projections for future expenditure on police pensions, with a view to providing updated projections later in 2009. In view of this, I shall write to the hon. Member when the revised projections are available.