Grantham MP Gareth Davies has called for a new pension commission to be set up in 2024 to consider the future of UK Pensions policy.
In a Westminster Hall debate on Wednesday morning, Gareth also advocated for the current automatic enrolment system to be extended to those aged 18-21, who are currently excluded.
Other MPs speaking at the debate agreed with Gareth that automatic enrolment had been a remarkable success, raising the workplace pension participation rate from 55% to 88% since 2012 – giving more people a stake in the UK economy and society.
There was consensus that this success should be built on, with suggestions including the extension of automatic enrolment to part-time workers by lowering the existing income threshold.
Gareth argued in particular for the extension of automatic enrolment to workers aged 18-21, as those who stood to gain the most from the policy.
He highlighted several factors – such as compound interest, demographic pressure, raising funds for green investment, eliminating the mental health participation gap, and encouraging financial engagement – that made the case for this step.
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