Background to Reform
This section covers the key events that led up to the Pensions Act 2007 and provides background information on the consultations and decisions that shaped the governments policy.
The Independent Pensions Commission
In December 2002 the Government set up the independent Pensions Commission to review the longer-term challenges faced by the pensions system and make recommendations for reform.
The Commission published its conclusions in November 2005, setting out its proposals for meeting the challenges we face in providing a fair and adequate retirement income for all in retirement.
You can view the first, second and final commission reports and find out about the commissioners at the Pensions Commission website.
The National Pensions Debate
With the independent Pensions Commission report providing a solid basis for building consensus, the Government launched the National Pensions Debate to give the public their chance to have their say on the emerging options for reform. This process culminated in National Pensions Day – the biggest deliberative consultation event to date in the UK.
It was vital that the changes Government made produced a lasting solution and people were asked what they thought so that decisions were made that everyone could have confidence in. Focusing on the broad package of reforms put forward by the independent Pensions Commission, the National Pensions Debate gathered the views of thousands of people through public events, an online Debate and via stakeholder events. These views played an important role in helping to inform the next stage of the reform process, the Government’s White Paper on Pensions Reform, Security in retirement: towards a new pensions system.
Results from the Debate – What You Said
The Final report (1.04MB) 
on the National Pensions Debate summarises the outome of national debate, which concluded at the end of March 2006 and featured the National Pensions Day, the largest event of its kind ever undertaken in the UK. The Debate had thousands of people taking part in an online survey and the National Pensions Day included over 1000 members of the public taking part in simultaneous, satellite-linked events spanning six locations.
This comprehensive report provides analysis of the voting results from all 6 locations. as well as results of the online Debate.
National Pensions Day – 18 March 2006
To find out more about National Pensions Day events in Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow, London, Newcastle and Swansea, you can read the End of Day report (78KB) with findings from the events.
Two White Papers
Security in retirement: towards a new pensions system
With input from the National Pensions Debate, the Government built on the Commission’s report and published its own proposals on the 25 May 2006 in the White Paper Security in retirement: towards a new pension system (1.58MB) . These proposals were designed to meet the five tests of personal responsibility, fairness, simplicity, affordability and sustainability.
Consultation response
Between May and September 2006, the Government consulted on the reform package in the White Paper. Around 350 individuals and organisations responded to the consultation.
The Government published a summary of the responses and its proposals for moving forward (607KB) on 30 October 2006.
The Government also published its response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee report on Pension Reform (443KB) on the same day.
You can also read the written ministerial statement to parliament (19KB) and the press release
Personal Accounts: a new way to save
On 12 December 2006, the Government published a second White Paper, Personal accounts: a new way to save. This White Paper set out proposals for a new national system of low cost personal accounts.
Consultation response
The publicaion of the White Paper was followed by a period of public consultation which closed on 20 March 2007. The Government published its response to the consultation on 14 June 2007.
The Government also published its response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee report on the Personal Accounts White Paper (224KB) on the same day.
You can also read the written ministerial statement to parliament (19KB) and the press release.