Pensions Forum
Building consensus
 

Pensions Forum

Recent activities

This diary is now closed. The page is retained for archive purposes only.

In pictures

14 June

John Hutton and James Purnell discuss pensions with college students.

18 May

James Purnell visits the North West to see how Jobcentre Plus is engaged with local partnership initiatives to help people back to work.

November 2

The Government published its response to the Public Administration Select Committee's report into the Ombudsman's findings on occupational pensions.

October 30

James Purnell announced the publication of the Government's response to the White Paper consultation at a Social Market Foundation event.

October 24

James Purnell gave the closing speech at the Help the Aged – Pensioner Poverty Seminar.

12 October

James Purnell speaks to the Circero Consulting/Money Marketing Magazine conference on how low charges are crucial to the success of Personal Accounts.

10 October

James Purnell delivers a keynote speech on risk management to the European Federation for Retirement Provision.

5 October

James Purnell visits Stoke-on-Trent as part of the latest Pensions Regional Roadshow.

4 October

James Purnell speaks at the Celebrating Age event to mark International Day of Older People.

11 September

The formal consultation on the Pensions Reforms White Paper concludes.

7 September

The fourth day of the pensions regional roadshow saw James Purnell in Merseyside.

The Minister visited the Jaguar Plant in Halewood, Age Concern and the Carers Centre in Warrington and O2 in Runcorn to discuss the Government's reforms with employees and local people.

6 September

James Purnell visited Bristol for discussions and to meet staff at pension providers AXA and HBOS.

Later in the day he talked to carers about their pensions concerns at the Black Carers project in the Kwmba Centre, St Pauls.

5 September

James Purnell was in Hull for the next stage of his pensions roadshow.

He toured Age Concern's Healthy Living Centre before meeting members of the local Chamber of Commerce. Later in the day the Minister travelled to York to discuss personal accounts with Norwich Union. And his trip culminated in a visit to Future Prospects – the Learning and Work Advice Centre – in York.

4 September

James Purnell visited Leicester to kick off a week of regional pensions roadshows.

The Minister met staff at Leicester Pension Centre in the morning and, in the afternoon, discussed the Government's pensions proposals with representatives from some of Leicester's ethnic minority communities.

14 August

A new drive to simplify pensions legislation means regulations due to come into force in October will not now go ahead.

10 August

James Purnell and Minister for Women Meg Munn called for a change in the savings culture to tackle the pensions gender gap.

The Minister for Pensions Reform said "the worrying reality is that if women don't make their own saving a priority, they could find themselves worse off in retirement than they expect".

New research encouraged employers to tackle age discrimination practices and recognise the benefits of older workers.

9 August

James Purnell attended a seminar on carers' pensions at the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) in Manchester and visited The Generation Project in Oppenshaw. Read more about these visits in my 10 August blog post

3 August

DWP research report published –

2 August

James Purnell attended a seminar to consult employers on automatic enrolment and personal accounts.

1 August

Two DWP research reports published –

27 July

James Purnell, Minister for Pension Reform, visited Brighton to hear the views of local pensioners and take part in the Celebrating Age 2006 international conference and cultural festival.

He said it was a "real pleasure to attend events like this which celebrate older people and their contributions".

24 July

Draft regulations for the extension of the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) were published for consultation alongside findings of a review into making payments faster.

James Purnell said: "The findings will be implemented as a matter of urgency, and I expect the number of payments being made to increase significantly in coming months."

 

Also on 24 July, DWP published three research reports into older people and poverty issues.

The reports look at how older people manage their income, what they spend it on, and whether they can afford to maintain a decent lifestyle.

21 July

A National Audit Office (NAO) report highlighted the Government's progress in tackling poverty.

It showed the Government had made "real and substantial progress" in achieving its aim to help the poorest pensioners.

17 July

Secretary of State John Hutton and Pensions Reform Minister James Purnell attended a Pensions Summit in London to kick-start the consultation on the model for personal accounts proposed in the Pensions Reform White Paper.

Discussions centred on the most effective way to deliver personal accounts.

John Hutton said: "We need to tackle the culture of under-saving, particularly among lower earners. We believe the best way to get more people saving is to automatically enrol them into personal accounts."

The event also coincided with the publication of Government research into public attitudes towards automatic enrolment.

12 July

James Purnell delivered a speech about pensions and young people for the Institute of Public Policy Research at the Design Council in London. He said young people need to change their savings habits or risk becoming "the live fast, die poor generation".

7 July

James Purnell discussed pensions with the pupils of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School in Fenham, Newcastle. The debate took place on the school's Enterprise Day. The Minister said: "When you talk about pensions people think you must be talking to people over 65 but the White Paper is aimed at young people. The real problem we have is people not saving enough so I was trying to plant the seed in young minds."

3 July

The Government launched eight new pilots to support older people in the heart of their communities. The LinkAge Plus initiative will enable people over 50 to access a whole range of services such as help with housing and access to transport, health services, employment advice and information about volunteering opportunities. James Purnell said: "People who find it difficult to travel will benefit from the outreach activity which will bring the services to them, whilst for others there will be drop-in centres for socialising as well as getting the information and support they need."

30 June

James Purnell made his first visit to Scotland to discuss pensions at a women's business meeting hosted by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.

On the same day, the Minister announced the publication of research which track public opinion to pensions reform. He said: "Some of the findings wouldn't surprise anyone: the current state pensions system is poorly understood and people think the state pension is more generous than it is. And the research shows that politicians have been right to be wary of the state pension age issue."

27 June

The Government gave the House of Commons an opportunity to debate the Government's proposals for pensions reform. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton, said Parliament's support for the White Paper would be a "significant step towards a truly lasting pensions settlement."

14 June

During Carers Week, James Purnell visited Kings Lynn to discuss pensions with the West Norfolk Women and Carers Pension Network. The Minister said: "It is vital we address the current injustice that affects women who are unable to build up entitlement to a full state pension and people that have made social contributions through caring for disabled people".

September 2005 - March 2006

The National Pensions Debate ran during this period giving people across the country the opportunity to have their say on the key pensions issues.

A whole range of activities took place during the debate culminating in National Pensions Day on 18 March.

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