VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Asked by Charlie MaynardLiberal DemocratTreasuryTabled Answered 7 July 2026UIN 14709

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much in cash terms was originally forecast to be paid to Equitable Life With-Profits Annuitants up to and including 2050 under the Equitable Life Payments Scheme.

Answered by Torsten Bell

The Liberal Democrat Conservative coalition government chose to allocate £1.5 billion to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. Before it ceased operations in 2016, the Scheme had issued £1.12 billion in tax-free payments to nearly 933,000 policyholders. The remainder of the £1.5 billion has been set aside for future payments to the With-Profits Annuitants. Further information is available in the Final Report on the Scheme. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equitable-life-payment-scheme-final-report).

Information on how the Scheme was designed and funded can be found in that report, and in the Scheme Design document at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/equitable-life-payment-scheme-design

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim