§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will publish draft regulations to facilitate the equalisation of benefits for pensions schemes being wound up. [23771]
§ Mr. McCartneyWe do not propose to publish draft regulations. Equalisation of benefits in pension schemes is a matter for the trustees of schemes.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the reports by the Pension Provisions Group entitled (1) "Pensions and the Labour Market"; [23772]
(2) "Pension Provision and Self-Employment". [23773]
§ Mr. McCartneyWe welcome the "Pensions and the Labour Market" report. We are pleased to note that the group has concluded that our pension reforms, together with measures to encourage and facilitate paid work,
should improve the overall level of pension provision".We share the Pension Provision Group's view that good quality, occupational pension schemes will continue to work well for large numbers of people.
We also welcome the group's report on pension provision and self-employment. It makes a useful contribution to the debate on this important issue.