10 November 2008

Mr S Hardwicke Carruthers

Via email ([FOI #3611 email])

Our ref: CS/08/0084/HJP

(Please quote our reference when contacting us)

If telephoning contact Hilary Pook on 020 7217 4734

or if using email send to: [email address]

Dear Mr Hardwicke Carruthers

Request for information

In your email of 17 October, you asked which pension fund(s) are used by the LGOs and their staff, for the current number of people paying into it and the level of employer's contributions.

The CLAE use the local government pension scheme, administered by the London Pension Fund Authority. Both the Ombudsmen and their staff use the same scheme. As at September 2008, there were 190 people paying into the scheme. Employer's contribution is 21.9% - in cash terms this was £119,606 in September 2008.

You also asked if it is the LGOs' intention to make up shortfalls caused through mismanagement of these funds, and the level of such payments made over the last 10 years.

As mentioned above, the pension scheme is administered by the London Pension Fund Authority, which is responsible for appointing fund managers to invest employer's and employees' contributions. CLAE plays no direct part in investment decisions. Any shortfalls are recovered typically over 30 years through the contribution rate.

That concludes my response and I hope you find the information useful. If you feel I have not dealt properly with your request, you have the right to appeal and, should you wish to do so, I can supply a copy our internal complaints procedure. You also have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner to determine whether your request has been properly dealt with. You should note however that the Commissioner will not consider any complaint where you have not first exhausted our internal complaints process or where there has been undue delay in contacting him. You will be able to obtain further details of the Information Commissioner's role from the website on www.ico.gov.uk.

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Yours sincerely

Hilary Pook (Ms)

Communications and Records Manager

LGO 01 (03/08)