Pensions (Hansard, 27 April 1998)

§ 31. Mr. Viggers
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to reform the system of occupational pensions. [38510]

§ Mr. Denham
The pensions review is looking at ways to meet the Government's commitment to strengthen and support occupational pensions because we recognise the importance of occupational pensions in providing income for retirement.
There are three strands to this work. First, we are taking steps to get the regulation of pensions right. Secondly, we want to find ways of acknowledging the best in occupational pension provision and of encouraging others to meet the standards of the best. Thirdly, we are seeking to raise the level of pensions education and awareness so that people can take informed choices about their own provision.
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The Government have signalled their willingness to look at the weight and appropriateness of the current regulatory system. We have also raised a series of issues on which we want to encourage a wider debate. Over the next few months we will be consulting widely on proposals for making the provisions of the Pensions Act easier to operate by simplifying a number of requirements.

§ 32. Sir Teddy Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations she has had from members of the public about her proposals for retirement pensions. [38512]

§ Mr. Denham
A key objective of our review of pensions is to ensure that pensioners should have an adequate income in retirement, that they should share fairly in rising national prosperity and that public finances should be both sustainable and affordable.
We received over 2,000 responses to the pensions review from pensions providers, employers, employees, consumers, pensions experts and pensioners themselves. We are considering the responses and we will be publishing a Green Paper later this year.

§ 34. Mr. Lansley
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she proposes to publish her proposals for stakeholder pensions. [38514]

§ Mr. Denham
Details of the proposed framework for Stakeholder Pension schemes will be included in the Green Paper on pensions which we will publish later this year.