The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many letters the Department for Work and Pensions has received from Members of Parliament since May 2015 on behalf of women who have complained about the impact of an increase in their state pension age.
Lord Freud
The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate costs.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many non-associated multi-employer defined benefit pension schemes in the UK are covered by the Pension Protection Fund, and what estimate they have made of the total number of employers in those schemes.
Lord Freud
As at 31 March 2016, there were 26 non-associated multi-employer schemes, with a total of 5,060 participating employers between them which are covered by the Pension Protection Fund.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-10-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 15 September (HL1462), what action was taken to trace new addresses and re-send letters to those affected by the increase in State Pension Age under the Pensions Act 2011; and for whom letters sent between January 2012 and November 2013 were returned due to the Department for Work and Pensions having the incorrect address.
Lord Freud
The Department has a robust process in place to review all incorrect address returns and properly scrutinise and update customer account details when an address is confirmed. Letters are issued to the latest address held on our records. DWP takes all reasonable steps to determine the correct address. For State Pensions this may include contact through Local Authority or a DWP Visiting Officer. Where an updated address is confirmed the customer account details are amended.
Information on the number of individuals who had letters returned due to incorrect address details, and details on resending letters is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many workers earning below the personal tax threshold were paying into net-pay pension schemes in (1) 2010–11, (2) 2011–12, (3) 2012–13, (4) 2013–14, (5) 2014–15, (6) 2015–16 and (7) 2016–17 to date.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
The Government does not collect data on the number of workers earning less than the personal allowance who are also members of pension schemes that operate a net pay system. The Government does not hold employee level data on employees enrolled in net pay pension schemes, as such schemes are not obliged to report pension contributions to HM Revenue and Customs. The Government does not therefore hold information on the value of tax reliefs paid out to employees in net pay schemes.
However, the Pensions Regulator provides guidance to employers on choosing a pension scheme for their staff in order to discharge their statutory obligations under automatic enrolment. This guidance covers the choice between net pay and relief at source schemes, and the implications of net pay schemes for employees who do not pay tax.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest estimate of the total number of employers who are potentially responsible for paying Pension Act 1995 section 75 debts of previous employers who are no longer part of their non-associated multi-employer defined benefit pension scheme.
Lord Freud
The information requested is not held by Government or the Pensions Regulator.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-10-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 15 September (HL1462), what happens to letters that are returned undelivered when incorrect details are held.
Lord Freud
Letters are issued to the latest address held on our records. Whilst the onus is on our citizens to notify appropriate Departments of their current address, DWP takes all reasonable steps to determine the correct address when letters are returned. This includes scrutinising all available DWP systems to determine if a revised address is held. At the time of the age equalisation communications campaign the process for State Pension included contact through Local Authorities or a DWP Visiting Officer. Where an updated address is confirmed the customer account details are amended.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of workers who earn under £11,000 a year and are contributing to net-pay pension schemes.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
The Government does not collect data on the number of workers earning less than the personal allowance who are also members of pension schemes that operate a net pay system. The Government does not hold employee level data on employees enrolled in net pay pension schemes, as such schemes are not obliged to report pension contributions to HM Revenue and Customs. The Government does not therefore hold information on the value of tax reliefs paid out to employees in net pay schemes.
However, the Pensions Regulator provides guidance to employers on choosing a pension scheme for their staff in order to discharge their statutory obligations under automatic enrolment. This guidance covers the choice between net pay and relief at source schemes, and the implications of net pay schemes for employees who do not pay tax.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their most recent estimate of the number of individual employers at risk of personal bankruptcy as a result of the increased costs of supporting defined benefit pension liabilities in non-associated multi-employer pension schemes.
Lord Freud
The information requested is not held by Government or the Pensions Regulator.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action the Department for Work and Pensions has taken to inform employers and pension scheme members of the implications for those on low pay of using a net-pay scheme rather than a relief-at-source scheme that adds the tax relief due.
Lord Freud
Pensions’ taxation is a matter for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
The noble Baroness may, however, find it helpful to note that the Pensions Regulator’s website provides comprehensive guidance for employers about their duties under workplace pensions’ legislation. This guidance covers pension scheme choice and the implications for an employer’s workforce of net-pay arrangements and relief-at-source schemes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest estimate of the impact of falling long-term gilt yields on the deficits of UK defined benefit pension schemes.
Lord Freud
Recent movement in gilt yields could have a material impact on the funding position of defined benefit pension schemes in the short term.
However, the precise effect on deficits will depend on a number of factors including how assets are allocated, the approach to hedging and the demographics of the scheme. We continue to monitor the position.