Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted
Write to set out support for informed pension financial decisions within three months.
Recommendation
This is another case of government not giving people enough time or support to make complex financial decisions. The government has a role to help people make good financial decisions, because of the detriment that bad choices can lead to. In the case of AEAT, it should have done this directly. This was a complex financial decision where members needed clear information on their options and time to seek appropriate financial advice. AEAT scheme members were only given one month to decide between their pension transfer options, and the information they received was insufficient. We have seen similar issues in other areas, including in the private sector where government oversees the regulation of independent financial advice. For example, our inquiry last year into the British Steel Pension Scheme covered the significant financial harm that many scheme members suffered from transferring their pensions after receiving unsuitable advice. We concluded that the regulatory system had left members open to being taken advantage of and that, seven years after the Pension Schemes Act 2015, regulated financial advisers were still not clear on what was expected of them. DWP is developing several initiatives aimed at supporting people to engage with their pensions, such as ‘Pensions Dashboards’ and a recent call for evidence on the support and information people need when accessing their pensions. However, it is not clear when these initiatives might come to fruition and lead to tangible improvements. Recommendation 4: The government should write to us within three months to set out what more it will do to support people to make informed financial decisions, including regarding their pensions. This should include what changes it will make in light of DWP’s recent call for evidence, and an update on progress with Pensions Dashboards. AEA Technology Pension Case 7 1 AEA Technology pensions
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to write to the Committee detailing actions to support informed financial decisions regarding pensions. It cites specific initiatives already in place, such as the Stronger Nudge to Pensions Guidance and the national rollout of the mid-life MOT, and recent regulations made on 19 July 2023 for Pensions Dashboards.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. significant. The government will write to the Committee setting out the action it is taking to support people to make informed decisions about their pensions by encouraging the use of appropriate advice and guidance and reducing the complexity of decisions savers are required to take. The government has recently taken significant steps to support people to make informed decisions about their pensions. The Stronger Nudge to Pensions Guidance ensures no-one accesses Defined Contribution pension savings without receiving Pension Wise guidance, or actively opting out of receiving it. The government is delivering the mid-life MOT in Jobcentre plus offices nationally; employers in the North East, East Anglia, and Devon and Cornwall through private sector providers; and launched an improved digital service in July 2023. The mid-life MOT provides and signposts to guidance around careers, health and finances, including pensions. On 19 July 2023, the government made regulations with a new approach to delivery of Pensions Dashboards that allows the government to work more collaboratively with the pensions industry. The government remains as committed as ever to making pensions dashboards a reality and is ambitious about their delivery. The government is confident that this re-appraised approach will enable it to make significant progress on delivering dashboards safely and securely, enabling consumers to take advantage of their benefits to plan for retirement.