§ Mr. PollardTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he is taking to liaise with the Secretary of State for Social Security to ensure that the introduction of stakeholder pension schemes are introduced in a way which minimises the regulatory impact and cost of compliance for small businesses. [105599]
§ Ms HewittAs a result of the consultation process, one of the key decisions on stakeholder pensions announced by the Secretary of State for Social Security on 10 January 2000,Official Report, columns 79–80W was that 41W businesses with fewer than five employees will not be required to provide access to a scheme, thus minimising the additional burden for small businesses. My officials in the Small Business Service are in continuing discussions with their counterparts in the Department for Social Security, and with representative bodies, specifically on how the potential administrative burden on employers can be kept to a minimum.