HC Deb 19 November 2003 vol 413 cc1070-1W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what(a) representations and (b) discussions he has had in the last 12 months on encouraging (i) employers and (ii) employees to contribute to stakeholder pensions; and if he will make a statement. [139442]

Malcolm Wicks

Ministers have received correspondence from, or had meetings with, a variety of interests including hon. Members, employer, employee and pension industry representatives about encouraging employers and employees to contribute to stakeholder pensions.

The Employer Task Force, set up as a result of the Government's Green Paper on Pensions has recently discussed this important issue. The Task Force will be considering it further as part of its ongoing work to increase and extend occupational and private pension provision.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what(a) representations and (b) discussions he has had in the last 12 months on the take-up of occupational pensions by part-time workers; and if he will make a statement. [139443]

Malcolm Wicks

The issue of lower occupational pension coverage by part-time compared to full-time workers was brought up for discussion during the Green Paper Consultation events by various different employers, women's lobby groups and other organisations with an interest in the Women and Pensions Agenda.

The Government is seeking to address this inequality through the Informed Choice Programme. One example is the employer-based pilots we propose to introduce in spring next year. These pilots are aimed at those employers who do not contribute at least 3 per cent to a private pension for their employees and will require the employer to offer information or advice within the workplace to help employees make their own private pension arrangements.

Making sure that all employees, including part-time workers, fully appreciate the value of employer contributions if these are offered, will also be an integral part of the Informed Choice programme.

65 Mr. Caton

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on low income households of delaying commencement of paying state retirement pension until the beginning of the week following the birthday that brings entitlement to that pension; [139485]

(2) to commence entitlement to state pension from the actual date of the (a)th birthday for men and (b) 60th birthday, for women. [139486]

Malcolm Wicks

There are no plans to change the date from which entitlement to State Pension commences.

The rule that entitlement begins on the payday on or following the day on which a man reaches his 65th birthday, or a woman her 60th birthday, derives from the

Date Payment in Advance Payment in Arrears
Thursday 4 December 2003 Man becomes 65 years/woman becomes 60 years.
Monday 8 December 2003 Entitled to standard rate State Pension. Receives £77.45 full week's payment for the coming week Would receive £44.28 (4/7ths of £77.45) for the period 4.12.03 to 7.12.03

Notes:

In respect of the period up to Wednesday 3 December 2003 the individual from a low income household would typically receive one or more of the following, paid around this time:

final earnings, monthly or weekly in arrears, with holiday pay, week in hand etc.

incapacity benefit/jobseeker's allowance—paid fortnightly in arrears

income support—paid weekly or at another period, in arrears