Accountancy firm highlights pension surplus

One of the Big Four accountancy firms has highlighted an "aggregate surplus" of a number of the UK's final-salary pension schemes, it has emerged.

According to reports, Deloitte has found that at the close of 2007, 100 of the country's largest businesses are operating with final-salary pension scheme surpluses of £15 billion.

Moreover, Deloitte has raised the possibility that this surplus could increase to £30 billion before the close of next year.

"Over 2008 companies will be looking to solve their pension problems for good," said David Robbins, a pensions partner at Deloitte.

"Options that include transferring pension schemes to new specialist pension buy-out companies are beginning to look viable," he added.

The current surplus is believed to have improved over the course of 2007 by over £55 billion, according to the firm.

Deloitte was established in 1845.