§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to consult with(a) pensioners' organisations and (b) other interested groups and charities in advance of the publication of the Government's Pensions Review. [40392]
§ Mr. DenhamThe first stage of the Pensions Review has involved an extensive public consultation exercise with pensioners' organisations, employers, employees, consumer groups, charities, the pensions industry and others. We have met representatives of many of these organisations since the review was launched last July and we are meeting the National Pensioners' Convention on a regular basis reflecting their central and specific role to ensure that the views of today's pensioners are at the heart of the review process.
We received over 2,000 responses to the first part of the review and over 200 responses to our proposals on stakeholder pensions. As set out in the Green Paper, "New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare" (Cm 3805), we will publish a Green Paper on pensions later this year. There will then be a period of further consultation before final proposals are developed.