THE MINISTERS, PENSION FUND REPORT AND ACCOUNTS lor the year ended 31 December 2020
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND Contents
for the year ended 31 December 2020
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees and Professional Advisers | 3 |
| Report of the Trustees | 4 – 11 |
| Auditors’ Report to the Trustees | 12 – 13 |
| The Ministers’ Pension Fund | |
| Revenue account | 14 |
| Net assets statement | 15 |
| Notes to the accounts | 16 – 19 |
| Actuarial statement made for the purpose of disclosure | 20 |
| Appendices | |
| Appendix I – MPF Statement of financial activities | 21 |
Page 2
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND
as at 31 December 2020
Trustees and Professional Advisers
Trustees
M J Tomlin (resigned July 2020) Rev L Phillips M G West (resigned July 2020) Rev Dr AS Peart Rev K Dean (resigned July 2020) Rev Jeffrey Bowes Mrs M Baker (Treasurer from July 2020) Mrs J Couper (from Sept 2020) Mrs H Dumpleton Mrs K Hanley (died February 2020)
Professional Advisers
Atkin & Co Blythe Gate Blythe Valley Park Solihull B90 8AF
Investment Managers
Newton Investment Managers Ltd 160 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4LA
Administrators
Mercers St James’s House Charlotte Street Manchester M1 4DZ
Auditors
Scott Roberts Taylor & Co Central Buildings 5-7 Corporation Street Hyde, Cheshire, SK14 1AG
Solicitor
Roderick Ramage Copehale, Coppenhall, Stafford ST18 9BW
Secretary
Jeffrey Teagle 15 Lordsfield Gardens Overton Basingstoke, RG15 3EW
Page 3
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND
Report of the Trustees
for the year ended 31 December 2020
The Trustees are pleased to submit their annual report on the operation of the Funds, together with the accounts of the Funds for the year ended 31 December 2020.
Constitution of Fund
The Ministers’ Pension Fund was established in its present form on 1 January 1971 to provide retirement and death benefits to full-time ministers and others as more particularly described in the rules. It is a registered charity (reg. no. 235410). The Fund is approved by the Pension Funds Office of HM Revenue and Customs as a Retirement Benefits Fund for the purpose of Chapter I part XIV of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, and is treated as an ‘Exempt approved Fund’ for the purposes of that Act. The PSO number is SF 7/12801. Members are not contracted out of the earnings related element of the State Pension Fund.
Regulatory Status
In the course of our negotiations with OPRA for an extension of time to comply with the minimum funding requirement (MFR), one of the arguments made on our behalf was that the MFR should not apply to the Fund as it is not an occupational pension scheme having no employer. Although OPRA had rejected that argument at a meeting on 28 June 2004 with the Trustees and their advisers, it took a different view of the matter in the period between 18 November 2004, when the Pensions Act 2005 received Royal Assent, and 6 April 2005, when the relevant part of it came into force. The relevant part in this context is a new definition of “occupational pension scheme” in substitution for the definition in s1 of the Pensions Act 1993. On the basis of the new definition, the Fund is not regarded as an occupational pension scheme. It is, however, still regarded as a registered scheme from 6[th] April 2005, under the tax regime for pension schemes.
The consequence of not being an occupational scheme is that the Fund is not subject to the statutory scheme specific funding requirements and is also no longer subject to the regulatory requirements of the 1993, 1995 and 2005 Acts; our solicitor will not say categorically that no regulatory requirement applies, as there may be some obscure regulations that do apply, which he has not found.
Whilst this leaves the Trustees to implement, with actuarial advice, the funding and investment decisions which they believe are in the best interests of the Fund and its members, the Trustees intend on a voluntary basis to apply the reporting and accounting obligations which apply to occupational schemes.
Trustees and Advisers
The names of the present Trustees are set out on page 3. Up to seven Trustees are elected by an annual meeting of the Fund (of whom not more than three shall be ministers) and three Trustees (of whom not more than one shall be a minister) are appointed by the Executive Committee of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. Trustees elected or appointed shall hold office for three years but shall be eligible for re-appointment.
The Fund is administered by the Trustees in accordance with the bye-laws set out in schedule 1 of the new constitution which was approved at the general meeting held on 11 April 2007.
On the recommendation of the Trustees, a general meeting may alter, amend, rescind or replace the byelaws in accordance with Rule 8 except for Rule 2 which shall not be alterable except in the event of amalgamation with any Society having similar or allied objects
The Board of Trustees is required to meet at least three times in every year. The votes of a majority of those present or participating shall decide all questions.
The advisers to the Fund were appointed by the Trustees. The names of the present advisers are shown on page 3.
Page 4
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND
Report of the Trustees - continued
for the year ended 31 December 2020
Data Protection Act 1998 (‘the Act’)
Under the Act, The Trustees (the Data Controller) are required to inform members that information is held about them and to notify members of the purposes for which the information is held. The Trustees use individual member information for the purposes of administering members’ pension benefits. In order to do so, the Trustees will need to disclose member information to the Administrators and such other professional advisers and other third parties whom the Trustees have chosen to assist in the administration of the Fund. It may be necessary for the Trustees to hold certain information, such as medical or health details, which is deemed to be ‘sensitive personal data’ under the Act. The Act requires that if the Trustees hold such information, the express consent of the member is obtained.
A member may request details of personal information held by the Trustees. Requests for such information should be addressed to Mr Jeffrey Teagle, the Data Protection Officer appointed by the Trustees. If a member believes that information held by the Trustees is incorrect or incomplete, such information, if found to be incorrect or incomplete, will be promptly corrected.
The Trustees have produced a Data Protection Policy Statement, which has been circulated to all members and pensioners.
Actuarial position
A full actuarial valuation was prepared as at 31 December 2019. The next actuarial valuation is in course of preparation as at 31[st] December 2022.
The Actuary’s report as at 31[st] December 2019 disclosed an overall actuarial deficit of £379,000 (31.12.2016 Deficit £184,000). The current contribution level of 10% from members and congregations is sufficient to remove the deficit based on the assumptions used.
Page 5
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND Report of the Trustees - continued
for the year ended 31 December 2020
Membership
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contributing members at 1 January | 41 | |||||||
| 42 | ||||||||
| New members (including rejoiners) | 0 | 4 | ||||||
| Retirees | (3) | |||||||
| (7) | ||||||||
| ______ | ______ | |||||||
| Contributing members at 31 December | 42 | |||||||
| 35 | ||||||||
| Deferred members at 1 January | 16 | |||||||
| 16 | ||||||||
| Retirees | 0 | |||||||
| (1) | ||||||||
| Transfer from contributors | 0 | |||||||
| 2 | ||||||||
| Transferred out of Fund | 0 | |||||||
| 0 | ||||||||
| Died | 0 | |||||||
| (1) | ||||||||
| Transferred to contributors | 0 | |||||||
| 0 | ||||||||
| ______ | ||||||||
| ______ | ||||||||
| Deferred members at 31 December | 16 | 16 | ||||||
| Pensioners (including widows) at 1 January | 103 | |||||||
| 103 | ||||||||
| Contributing members retiring during the year | 3 | |||||||
| 5 | ||||||||
| Deaths | (3) | |||||||
| (4) | ||||||||
| Deferred members retiring during the year | 0 | |||||||
| 1 | ||||||||
| Dependants’ pensions | 0 | |||||||
| 2 | ||||||||
| Ex Widows Fund Annuities | 0 | |||||||
| 0 | ||||||||
| Pensioners (including widows) at 31 December | 107 | 103 | ||||||
| Total membership as at 31 December | 158 | 161 | ||||||
Page 6
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND Report of the Trustees - continued
for the year ended 31 December 2020
| Contributing members Age profile Under 50 Male Female 50 to 59 Male Female 60 and over Male Female TOTAL |
2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 9 | ||
| 3 | 4 | ||
| 9 | 13 | ||
| 10 | 10 | ||
| 6 | 6 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| 7 | 9 | ||
| 3 | 4 | ||
| 10 | 13 | ||
| 35 | 42 | ||
Page 7
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND Report of the Trustees - continued for the year ended 31 December 2020
Benefit review
Following a review of the Fund’s investment performance and after consultation with the Actuary, no increase to pensions has been given with effect from 1.1.2019. It was proposed at the 2012 Annual Meeting to delete the necessity to provide the statutory increase currently provided by the constitution.
Additional Voluntary Contributions
Ministers are reminded that they may pay Additional Voluntary Contributions to the Ministers’ Pension Fund of up to the maximum in one year of their Stipend and Manse Allowance. Such contributions are tax deductible and are not subject to any deduction for expenses of management.
In 2020, the number of Ministers making Additional Voluntary Contributions was 6 (5 last year).On 31 December 2020, taking into account the Nil% (Nil% last year) bonus granted, the value of the Contributors’ balances was £83,337 for 10 Ministers (£71,996 for 9 Ministers last year).The annual bonus is now linked to the pensions increase policy determined by the Trustees after taking advice from the Actuary.
Review of the financial development of the Fund
The accounts for the year have been prepared and audited in accordance with the regulations made under section 41(I) and (6) of the Pensions Act 1995.
The value of the Fund increased as follows in the course of the year:
This year Last year MPF by Decrease £219,974 (4.3%) to Increase £687,639 (15.4%) to £4,923,921 £5,143,715
This was after taking account of the excess of expenditure over income, (i.e. excluding changes in the market value of investments), which was
| This | Last | |
|---|---|---|
| year | year | |
| £ | **£ ** | |
| Ministers’ Pension Fund | (251,092) | **(18,975) ** |
Management of the Fund
The overall management of the Fund is vested in the Trustees who were appointed at the AGM on 17[th] April 2020 and whose names appear on Page 3 of this report. The management of the investment assets of the Fund is handled by Newton Investment Management Ltd. There is no charge for this service as all the investments are Newton Funds and the individual funds charge a service fee.
Page 8
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND Report of the Trustees - continued for the year ended 31 December 2020
Investment policy and performance
The portfolio is invested in a selection of funds holding UK and overseas equities as well as fixed income assets. There is a restriction on direct investment in tobacco products. The policy followed reflects the investment objectives of meeting the Fund’s long-term commitment to provide pension benefits linked to ‘Maximum Stipend’, ‘Maximum Manse Allowance’ and years of service. It is not the policy of the Trustees to concentrate investment assets but to achieve a wide spread of risk.
At 31 December 2020, the portfolio was invested in the following Funds (at market values):
| Ministers’ Pension Fund Newton Growth and Income Fund for Charities Newton SRI Fund for Charities Newton Global Higher Income Fund Ground Rent |
2020 £ 3,196,788 1,255,451 396,076 0 4,848,315 |
2019 £ 3,213,946 1,186,567 629,557 2,224 5,032,294 |
|---|---|---|
Page 9
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND
Report of the Trustees - continued for the year ended 31 December 2020
The Current situation
1. Widows’ Fund
The assets and liabilities of the Widows Fund (except the welfare aspects) were transferred to the Ministers’ Pension Fund in 2016. During 2020, the portfolio of chief rents inherited from the Widows Fund were sold.
2. Communications
Copies of annual reports are sent to all Members. A record of service and a benefit statement is sent to all contributing Members.
3. Indemnity Insurance
The Trustees have again taken out trustee indemnity insurance during the year. The relevant authority has been granted by the Charity Commissioners.
4. The expenses of the Fund
The administrative expenses at £61,037 represent 1.2% (£30,013 and 0.6% last year) of the value of the Fund. The major reason for the increase relates to actuarial fees. It remains the Trustees’ aim not to exceed 1.5%, subject to any adverse movement in the value of our investments.
5. Donation from Ministers Benevolent Society
Following the decision by the Directors of the Ministers Benevolent Society at their AGM to make a gift of the excess of income over expenditure over the last year a payment of £20,000 has been received in 2020 (2019 £20,000).
Page 10
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND Report of the Trustees - continued for the year ended 31 December 2020
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities for the accounts
The purpose of this statement is to distinguish the Trustees’ responsibilities for the accounts from those of the Auditors as stated in their report.
Although they are not required to do so, the Trustees have, under the Occupational Pension Schemes (Requirement to obtain Audited Accounts and a statement from the Auditor) Regulations 1996, obtained audited accounts showing a true and fair view of the financial transactions of the Fund during the year and of the disposition, at the end of the year, of those of the Fund’s assets and liabilities which would be required by statute to be included. Those accounts state whether they have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice on pension scheme accounts and disclose other information specified in the Regulations.
The Trustees were formerly responsible under section 58 of the Pensions Act 1995 and the MFR Regulations for ensuring that there is prepared, maintained and from time to time revised, a schedule of contributions showing the rates of contributions payable to the Fund by or on behalf of the congregations and the active members of the Fund and the dates on or before which such contributions are to be paid. The Trustees are also responsible, as a principle of good practice, for keeping records in respect of the contributions received in respect of the active members of the Fund and for procuring that contributions are made in accordance with the schedule of contributions.
These requirements, in conjunction with the general law relating to trusts, imply that the Trustees are also expected to:
(i) maintain accounting records and select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently, making judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
(ii) state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts: and
(iii) safeguard the Funds’ assets, and hence take reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of error, fraud and other irregularities.
On behalf of the Trustees
…………………………………………………Rev Jeffrey Bowes (Chairman)
…………………………………………………Mrs Marion Baker (Hon Treasurer)
17th May 2021
Page 11
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND Auditors’ Report to the Trustees
for the year ended 31 December 2020
Independent auditors’ report to the Trustees of the Ministers’ Pension Fund
Report on the financial statements
Our opinion
In our opinion, the Ministers’ Pension Fund financial statements:
-
Show a true and fair view of the financial transactions of the Scheme during the year ended 31 December 2020, and of the amount and disposition at that date of its assets and liabilities, other than liabilities to pay pensions and benefits after the end of the year.
-
Have been property prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice: and
-
Contain the information specified in Regulation 3 of, and the Schedule to, the Occupational Pension Schemes (Requirement to obtain Audited Accounts and a Statement from the Auditor) Regulations 1996, made under the Pensions Act 1995.
What we have audited
The Ministers’ Pension Fund’s financial statements comprise:
-
The statement of net assets available for benefits as at 31 December 2020:
-
The fund account for the year then ended: and
-
The notes to the financial statements, which include a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.
Certain required disclosures have been presented elsewhere in the annual report, rather than in the notes to the financial statements. These are cross-referenced from the financial statements and are identified as audited.
The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the financial statements is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland”.
In applying the financial reporting framework, the Trustees have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting estimates. In making such estimates, they have made assumptions and considered future events.
Responsibilities for the financial statements and the audit
Our responsibilities and those of the Trustees
As explained more fully in the statement of Trustees’ responsibilities, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and being satisfied that they show a true and fair view.
Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) (“ISAs (UK & Ireland)”).
Page 12
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND Auditors’ Report to the Trustees
for the year ended 31 December 2020
Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.
This report, including the opinion, has been prepared for and only for the Trustees as a body in accordance with section 41 of the Pensions Act 1995 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving this opinion, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.
What an audit of financial statements involves
We conducted our audit in accordance with ISAs (UK & Ireland). An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of:
-
Whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Scheme’s circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed;
-
The reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the Trustees; and
-
the overall presentation of the financial statements.
We primarily focus our work in these areas by assessing the Trustees’ judgements against available evidence, forming our own judgements, and evaluating the disclosures in the financial statements.
We test and examine information, using sampling and other auditing techniques, to the extent we consider necessary to provide a reasonable basis for us to draw conclusions. We obtain audit evidence through testing effectiveness of controls, substantive procedures or a combination of both.
In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the annual report to identify material inconsistences and the audited financial statements and to identify any information that is apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired by us in the course of performing the audit. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistence we consider the implications for our report.
Mr Adrian Brooks FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Scott Roberts Taylor & Co. Accountants and Registered Auditors Central Buildings 5/7 Corporation Street Hyde Cheshire SK14 1AG
………………………………….
Page 13
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND Revenue account
for the year ended 31 December 2020
| Notes Contributions and benefits Contributions receivable and similar income 3 Benefits payable 4 Other Payments 5 Administrative expenses 6 Net contributions/ (withdrawals) from dealing with members Returns on Investments Investment income 7 Increase in Market Value of Investments Profit on Disposal of Ground Rents 9 9 Profit/(Loss) on Disposal of Investments 9 Net Return on investments Net Increase/(Reduction) in Fund during year Net Assets at beginning of year Net Assets at end of year |
£ 550,134 6,498 61,037 |
2020 £ 262,904 (617,669) |
£ 385,176 6,917 30,013 |
2019 £ 264,783 (422,106) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 103,673 47,715 1,656 (18,073) |
138,348 692,672 - 13,942 |
|||
| (354,765) 134,971 |
(157,323) 844,962 |
|||
| (219,974) 5,143,715 |
687,639 4,456,076 |
|||
| 4,923,921 | 5,143,715 |
The notes on pages 16 to 19 form part of these accounts
Page14
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND Net assets statement
As at 31 December 2020
| Assets not designated to members Notes ` Investments Chief Rents 8 Current Assets Debtors 10 Cash at Bank Less Current Liabilities Creditors 11 Net Current Assets Net assets at 31 December 2020 These accounts were approved on 17th May 2021 Signed on behalf of the Trustees |
£ - 107,577 |
2020 £ 4,848,314 - |
£ 83,000 45,193 |
2019 £ 5,030,070 2,224 5,032,294 128,193 (16,772) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,848,314 107,577 (31,970) |
||||||
| 75,607 | 111,421 | |||||
| 4,923,921 | 5,143,715 | |||||
Rev L Phillips (Chairman)
The notes on pages 16 to 19 form part of
these accounts
Page 15
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31 December 2020
1. Basis of accounting
Although they do not apply to the Fund, the accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Occupational Pensions Funds (Requirement to obtain Audited Accounts and a statement from the Auditor) Regulations 1996 and with the guidelines set out in the statement of Recommended Practice Financial Reports of Pension Schemes. In so doing, the Fund has departed from certain provisions contained within the Charities (Accounting and Reporting) Regulations 1995.
The accounts summarise the transactions and net assets of the Fund and deal with the net assets at the disposal of the Trustees. They do not take account of obligations to pay pensions and other benefits which fall due after the end of the Fund year.
The actuarial position of the Fund, which does take account of such liabilities, is dealt with in the actuarial statement on page 19 which, together with these accounts, constitute part of the Fund’s annual report. The accounts should be read in conjunction with the actuarial statements. The last full actuarial valuation was prepared as at 31 December 2019. The next actuarial valuation will take place as at 31[st] December 2022.
2. Accounting policies
(a) Investments
- (i) Listed investments are included in the statement of net assets at their middle market values at the accounting date.
(b) Contributions and similar income
-
(i) Contributions and similar income are brought into account on an accruals basis.
-
(ii) Grants and donations receivable and payable are accounted for on an accruals basis.
(c) Investment income
Investment income is brought into account when it is received by the Fund.
(d) Bank deposit interes t
Interest from bank deposits is accounted for on an accruals basis.
3. Contributions receivable and similar income
| 3. Contributions receivable and similar income Contributions by ministers Ministers’ additional voluntary contributions Contributions by congregations Subscriptions from Ministers Benevolent Society and donations |
2020 2019 £ £ 115,759 119,179 11,341 6,380 115,759 119,179 20,045 20,045 |
| 262,904 264,783 |
Page 16
THE MINISTERS’PENSION FUND Notes to the accounts – continued
for the year ended 31 December 2020
| 4. Benefits payable Pensions payable and Widows Fund Annuities Lump sums payable 5. Other payments Death Benefit policy premiums 6. Administrative expenses Administration charges Actuarial fees Audit fees Legal fees Secretarial honorarium and expenses Travel and meeting expenses Trustees Liability Insurance 7. Investment income Dividends from equities Interest on cash deposits Ground Rent |
2020 2019 £ 0£ 390,335 374,154 159,799 11,022 |
|---|---|
| 550,134 385,176 |
|
| 2020 2019 £ £ 6,498 6,917 |
|
| 6,498 6,917 |
|
| 2020 2019 £ £ 28,800 28,800 14,109 (10,152) 3,000 3,000 4,700 2,500 6,325 3,068 1,258 1,552 2,845 1,245 |
|
| 61,037 30,013 |
|
| 2020 2019 £ £ 103,433 137,963 16 9 224 376 |
|
| 103,673 138,348 |
Page 17
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND Notes to the accounts – continued
for the year ended 31 December 2020
| 8. Investments - Overseas Equities - Ground Rents |
20 Cost £ 3,003,091 - 3,003,091 |
Market Value £ 4,848,31 - 4,848,31 |
20 Cost £ 3,145,581 2,224 3,147,805 |
Market Value £ 5,030,070 2,224 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,032,294 |
| 9. Movement in Investments Investments at beginning of year Investments purchased during year Proceeds from Ground rents sold during year less costs to sell Proceeds from Investments sold during year Net increase/(reduction) in market value during year Market Value of Investments held at end of year |
Market Value 2020 2019 £ £ 5,032,294 4,421,611 15,602 (3,880) 21,209 - (227,000) (117,140) 4,817,016 4,325,680 31,298 706,614 4,848,314 5,032,294 |
Market Value 2020 2019 £ £ 5,032,294 4,421,611 15,602 (3,880) 21,209 - (227,000) (117,140) 4,817,016 4,325,680 31,298 706,614 4,848,314 5,032,294 |
|---|---|---|
| 4,325,680 706,614 |
||
| 5,032,294 |
Page 18
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND
Notes to the accounts – continued
for the year ended 31 December 2020
| 10. Debtors Cash due from Ministers’ Benevolent Society Cash due from investment manager 11 Creditors Accrued expenses |
2020 2019 £ £ - - 20,000 63,000 |
|---|---|
| - 83,000 |
|
| 2020 2019 £ £ 31,970 16,772 |
|
| 31,970 16,772 |
12 Taxation
The Fund is exempt approved under Chapter I of Part XIV of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 and was not liable to UK income tax on interest and dividends or to capital gains tax.
Page 19
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND
Actuarial statement made for the purpose of disclosure of Information
Actuarial statement made for the purpose of disclosure of information
The Trustees have requested a statement regarding the funding position and contributions required notwithstanding the fact that the Fund is not subject to the requirements of the Pensions Act 2004.
The Security of Prospective Rights
On the basis of the assumptions that were adopted for this valuation, the Fund had a deficit, in relation to accrued benefits, of £379,000 as at 31 December 2020. This represented a funding level of 93%.
It is likely that current contribution levels will be sufficient to remove this deficit and cover the accrual of future service.
At the valuation date, contributions were being paid are as set out below:
By Ministers:10.0% of the total of Stipends and Manse Allowances
By the Churches: 10.0% of the total of Stipends and Manse Allowances
It is recommended that contributions continue to be paid at their current level in order to protect the Fund against potential adverse experience in the future.
Summary of Methods and Assumptions Used
An attained age method of valuation was used. The funding position at the valuation date was derived by comparing the liabilities for benefits earned before the valuation date with the value of the assets. The liabilities for benefits to be earned after the valuation date were assessed and compared with the value of the contributions due from the Ministers and the Congregations under the By-Laws. The assumptions used include only small margins for prudence and the Fund remains vulnerable to unfavorable experience particularly in relation to the investments and mortality experience. Events since the valuation date have highlighted the volatility of the funding to changes in the value of the investments. On the valuation basis, contributions of 15.7% of Stipends and Manse Allowances are required to cover future accrual of benefits and expected expenses. For this purpose, the liabilities have been discounted at a rate of 7.5% per annum.
The assets of the Fund have been valued at their market value as reported in the Accounts. The Trustees should continue to review their investment strategy in light of the increasing maturity of the Fund.
Further details can be obtained from the full actuarial valuation report as at 31 December 2019. The next valuation exercise should be carried out no later than 31 December 2022.
Name: Christopher Mark Atkin Qualification: FIA Address: Oracle Building, Oracle Drive Name of employer: Atkin & Co Blythe Valley Park, Solihull,B90 8AD
Page 20
THE MINISTERS’ PENSION FUND Appendix 1
Statement of Financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2020
| INCOME AND EXPENDITURE Notes Incoming resources Contributions receivable and similar income 3 Investment income 7 Resources expended Direct expenditure – benefits payable 4 Direct expenditure – other payments 5 Management and administration expenses 6 Net outgoing resources for the year Increase in market value of investments Profit on Disposal of Ground rents 9 9 (Loss)/Profit on Disposal of Investments 9 Net movement in funds Balances brought forward at 1 January Balances carried forward at 31 December |
£ 550,134 6,498 61,037 |
£ 550,134 6,498 61,037 |
Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds 2020 2019 £ £ £ 262,904 264,783 103,673 138,348 366,577 403,131 385,176 6,917 30,013 (617,669) 422,106 (251,092) (18,975) 692,672 - 13,942 31,298 706,614 (219,794) 687,639 5,143,715 4,456,076 4,923,921 5,143,715 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47,715 1,656 (18,073) |
||||
| (219,794) 5,143,715 |
||||
| 4,923,921 |
Page 21