Pensions

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on pensions. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
04.03.2013Viral emails protesting about financial assistance for "illegal immigrants/refugees living in Britain"
A viral email claims that "illegal immigrants/refugees living in Britain" receive significantly more financial assistance from the Government than UK pensioners. The email originates from abroad and the figures quoted do not reflect the true situation in the United Kingdom.
04.03.2013Pensions: Automatic enrolment - 2010 onwards
The Workplace pension reforms will start to be introduced from 2012. Employers will be required to automatically enrol workers into a qualifying pension scheme and, unless the worker opts out, make minimum contributions.
01.03.2013MPs' Pension Scheme - 2012 onwards
This note provides an overview of MPs' pensions and current proposals for reform. Further detail on the background can be found in SN 01844 MPs Pension Scheme - background
20.02.2013Single-tier state pension
This notes look at the Government's proposals, set out in a White Paper published on 14 January 2013, to introduce a single-tier state pension
20.02.2013Pensions: civil partnerships and same sex marriages
This note looks at the way in which forming a civil partnership affects rights to state, occupational and personal pensions and at the relevant provisions in the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2012-13

Research Papers

DateDescription
29.11.2012Public Service Pensions Bill: Committee Stage Report
This is a report on the Public Bill Committee stage of the Public Service Pensions Bill. It is designed to complement Research Paper RP 12/57, which covers in more detail the background to the Bill.
16.10.2012Public Service Pensions Bill [Bill 70 of 2012/13]
The Public Service Pensions Bill would establish a framework enabling the Government to introduce new public service pension schemes.
06.10.2011Pensions Bill: Committee Stage Report
This is a report on the Public Bill Committee Stage of the Pensions Bill. It is designed to complement Research Paper Pensions Bill (RP 11/52), which covers in more detail the background to the Bill and the debates in the House of Lords.
16.06.2011Pensions Bill [HL], Bill 183 of 2010-12
This paper has been prepared for the Second Reading debate in the House of Commons on the Pensions Bill and outlines the main changes to the paper.
07.03.2011Welfare Reform Bill: Universal Credit provisions
The Welfare Reform Bill provides for the introduction of a 'Universal Credit' to replace a range of existing means-tested benefits and tax credits for people of working age, starting from 2013. The Bill follows the November 2010 White Paper, Universal Credit: welfare that works, which set out the Government's proposals for reforming welfare to improve work incentives, simplify the benefits system and tackle administrative complexity.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
11.05.2011The impact of the 2007-08 changes to public service pensions.
Public Accounts Committee report [Commons]
14.10.2009Tackling pensioner poverty.
Government response. Department for Work and Pensions; Work and Pensions Select Committee report [Commons]
15.07.2009Tackling pensioner poverty.
Work and Pensions Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
23.01.2012SCOTTISH & NEWCASTLE PENSION PLAN
That this House notes the acquisition in 2008 of the brewers ScottishNewcastle by Heineken NV; further notes the commitment made by Heineken at that time to provide RPI increases, up ...
12.01.2012HIDDEN COSTS IN PENSION AND SAVING FUNDS
That this House notes with concern the presentation to HM Treasury by Dr Christopher Sier, a former consultant to investment managers, and David Norman, formerly Chief Executive of ...
01.11.2011BANKRUPTCY OF ALLIED STEEL AND WIRE
That this House notes the bankruptcy of Allied Steel Wire (ASW) in 2002 and the deficits of its company pension schemes; recognises the dedicated campaign of John Benson, Denis Kelleher ...
11.10.2011PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS (No.3)
That this House notes that proposals by Government Ministers run the serious risk of making public sector pension schemes unsustainable; further notes that increasing contributions ...
14.09.2011INDUSTRIAL ACTION OVER PENSIONS
That this House expresses its concern that the Government is refusing to engage in meaningful negotiations with the trade unions on the future of public sector pensions and appears ...

Lords Library Notes

DateDescription
14.12.2012Public Service Pensions Bill (HL Bill 67 of 2012-13)
The Public Service Pensions Bill sets out new arrangements for the creation of schemes for the payment of pensions and other benefits. This Library Note provides background information for the second reading of the Bill in the House of Lords on 19 December 2012.
09.02.2011Pensions Bill [HL] (HL Bill 37 of 2010-11)
This Library Note provides background information in advance of the Pensions Bill's second reading in the House of Lords.
21.10.2010Superannuation Bill (HL Bill 22 of session 2010-11). LLN 2010/025
Superannuation Bill. House of Lords Library Note 2010/025

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library