A new pension settlement for the twenty-first century: the second report of the Pensions Commission

Author:
PENSIONS COMMISSION
Publisher:
Stationery Office
Publication year:
2005
Pagination:
460p., bibliog., tables
Place of publication:
London

The Pensions Commission is an independent body established by the Government to review the adequacy of current arrangements for private pensions and retirement savings in the UK, and to make recommendations on appropriate policy changes, including the option of moving to a compulsory system. The Second Report of the Pensions Commission, sets out the Commission's conclusions on the likely evolution of the UK pension system if policy is unchanged, and makes recommendations for a new policy direction. Recommendations are based on two key elements: the automatic enrolment of employees into either a new National Pensions Savings System or into existing company pension schemes, with an option for employees to opt-out, and with a modest compulsory employer matching contribution; and reform of state pension provision in order to make it simpler to understand and less means-tested. The Commission concludes that these reforms will require some increase in public expenditure on pensions as a percentage of GDP over the next 45 years, and that increases in state pension ages will be needed to keep that increase within sustainable levels over the long term. The Commission presents a range of possible combinations of public expenditure and state pensions ages, and calls for a public debate to consider these options. It also recommends the establishment of a successor body to continue to review the situation and report to Parliament and government every four years.

Subject terms:
pensions, economics;
Content type:
government publication
Location(s):
United Kingdom
Link:
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ISBN print:
0 11 703602 1

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