HC Deb 31 October 2001 vol 373 cc750-1W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of companies under the regulations introduced on 8 October that(a) are obliged to provide and (b) have so far failed to offer access to a stakeholder scheme. [7576]

Mr. McCartney

The latest estimate of the number of employers obliged to provide employees with access to a stakeholder pension scheme is between 350,000 and 400,000. By the end of August 2001, pensions industry figures showed 146,950 employers had designated a scheme. Figures showing designations since then are not yet available.

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements he is making to monitor employers' compliance with their obligation to designate stakeholder pension schemes. [11316]

Mr. McCartney

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Hitchin and Harpenden (Mr. Lilley) on 23 October 2001,Official Report, column 180W.

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what avenues of redress are available to individual employees where their employer has failed to meet the deadline for designation of a stakeholder pension scheme. [11315]

Mr. McCartney

An employee who considers that their employer should have provided staff access to a stakeholder pension scheme but has not done so may raise the matter directly with their employer or through their trade union official or other recognised staff representative. Should this not resolve the issue the matter may then be reported to the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra) who will investigate.