UK Inquiry Tracker

Pension auto-enrolment: update inquiry

Work and Pensions Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 7 Jan 2019 Closed: 5 Nov 2019 Parliament page

Since 2015 the Committee has had a watching brief on the implementation of auto-enrolment. Its last report in the issue, published in May 2016, concluded that automatic enrolment had been a great success story, but major concerns remained about the infrastructure of pensions regulation, and in particular how the welcome … Read more Since 2015 the Committee has had a watching brief on the implementation of auto-enrolment. Its last report in the issue, published in May 2016, concluded that automatic enrolment had been a great success story, but major concerns remained about the infrastructure of pensions regulation, and in particular how the welcome new levels of retirement savings would be invested. The rollout of auto-enrolment to employers is now complete, and in a follow up one-off session set for Wednesday 23 January 2018, the Committee seek industry views on the maturing auto-enrolment market, and on the further reforms following the 2017 review. The key issues to be explored now are: Success of auto-enrolment: Auto-enrolment now covers all sizes of employers and the rollout has generally been viewed as a success, with opt-out rates lower than initially expected, even after mandatory contribution rates were increased. Further reforms: DWP’s December 2017 review of Automatic Enrolment “Maintaining the Momentum” set out reforms including lowering the age for automatic enrolment from 22 to 18, and removing the lower earnings limit so that contributions are calculated from the first pound of earnings. Transparency and expectations: The Government has noted that while more individuals are saving than ever before, they are not necessarily engaged with or well informed about saving for their retirement. Evidence to the Committee in the previous Parliament indicated that the auto-enrolment contribution rates will not be enough to provide most people with an adequate pension. Regulation: Master trust pension schemes are currently undergoing a process of applying for authorisation from the Pension Regulator to be able to continue operating, but questions remain over TPR’s competency in regulating Master trusts. The self-employed and small employers: Self-employed workers are not currently covered by auto-enrolment, which has led to Committee Chair Frank Field expressing concerns about this group’s “lost” pension savings. Small and micro-employers were the last employers required to auto-enrol their employees into pension schemes, amid concerns over the differential impact of the new requirements and the cost of meeting them on small business. Show less

1 Oral session

4 Letters

1 Event

Activity timeline 6 events

5 Nov
2019

Correspondence

Letter from Nicola Parish, Executive Director of Frontline Regulation, re Master trust authorisation and supervision

5 Nov
2019

Correspondence

Letter from Zoe Alexander, Director of Strategy, NEST Corporation, re supplementary information

19 Aug
2019

Correspondence

Letter to Frank Field from the Director of Policy, NOW: Pensions , regarding pension auto-enrolement, dated 20 March 2019

6 Feb
2019

Correspondence

Letter from Nigel Watson, Chair of Trustees NOW pensions to Chair Frank Field regarding Pensions auto enrolment – dated 29 January 2019

23 Jan
2019

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

23 Jan
2019

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster

Committee event

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

23 Jan 2019

View on parliament.uk

Correspondence 4 letters

5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Nicola Parish, Executive Director of Frontline Regulation, re Master trust authorisation and supervision

Parliament page

5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Zoe Alexander, Director of Strategy, NEST Corporation, re supplementary information

Parliament page

19 Aug 2019 From committee Letter to Frank Field from the Director of Policy, NOW: Pensions , regarding pension auto-enrolement, dated 20 March 2019

Parliament page

6 Feb 2019 To committee Letter from Nigel Watson, Chair of Trustees NOW pensions to Chair Frank Field regarding Pensions auto enrolment – dated 29 January 2019

Parliament page