Work and Pensions Select Committee Committee to quiz Ros Altman

Committee questions Ros Altman on the triple lock and women’s state pensions

At 9.30 tomorrow morning, Wednesday 27 April 2016, the Committee will hear from Pensions Minister Baroness Ros Altman on major current pension policy issues.  

Intergenerational fairness

After compelling evidence from economic experts on Monday the Minister will be asked about the sustainability of the state pensions “triple lock”. She will also be asked about other pensioner benefits, such as the Winter Fuel Allowance, as part of the Committee’s Intergenerational fairness inquiry.

Women’s state pensions

In the second report of their inquiry Understanding the new State Pension the Committee suggested an “actuarially neutral” option might allow people affected by changes in the state pension age to draw a lesser pension amount, earlier. This was in response to concerns among women planning to retire that they had not been informed in sufficient time about changes to the state pension age.  That proposal led to the opening of this inquiry Early drawing of state pension. In a recent media interview Baroness Altman said she was “hoping” to help women born in the 50s who have been particularly affected by the pension age changes.

Auto-enrolment

The Committee will also question the Minister on whether the Lifetime ISA, announced in the Budget and due to be introduced in 2017, is compatible with pensions automatic enrolment.

Watch the session: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/1575f9de-08ce-4f9f-900f-c33c8c8df1e8

Committee Membership is as follows: 

Frank Field (Labour, Birkenhead) (Chair); Heidi Allen (Conservative, South Cambridgeshire); Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party, Paisley and Renfrewshire South); Ms Karen Buck, (Labour, Westminster North); Neil Coyle (Labour, (Bermondsey & Old Southwark); John Glen (Conservative, Salisbury); Richard Graham (Conservative, Gloucester); Craig Mackinlay (Conservative, South Thanet); Steve McCabe (Labour, Birmingham Selly Oak); Jeremy Quin (Conservative, Horsham); Craig Williams (Conservative, Cardiff North).