Chancellor Launches Landmark Review

London, United Kingdom. Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer poses for a photograph following her appointment to Cabinet by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in 10 Downing Street. Picture by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street

29th July 2024 Posted by -

Chancellor Launches Landmark Review to Boost Pensions and Investment

The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has announced a significant review aimed at enhancing pension investments, increasing pension pots, and reducing waste in the pensions system. The review was highlighted in the King’s Speech, confirming a new Pensions Bill that could significantly benefit UK pensioners and the broader economy.

Here’s an analysis of what the review could mean.

Key Highlights of the Pensions Review

  1. Boost to Pension Pots: The new Pensions Bill has the potential to increase pension pots by over £11,000 for savers in defined contribution schemes. The bill also emphasises further consolidation and broader investment strategies to deliver higher returns.
  • Economic Impact: An investment shift in defined contribution schemes could introduce £8 billion of new productive investment into the UK economy. The review will also look at how to unlock the investment potential of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), which manages £360 billion in assets and is the seventh largest pension fund in the world.
  • Reducing Fees: The review will address the £2 billion annual expenditure on fees within the LGPS, aiming to cut down on waste and improve efficiency.

Industry support

The announcement has received strong support from various industry leaders: For instance, António Simões, CEO of Legal & General Group, welcomed the initiative, noting that driving pensions capital into areas like science and infrastructure can support better returns for savers and stimulate long-term economic growth.

Timing

The first stage of the review will report in the next few months and will look at further measures that can support the proposed Pensions Bill.

The Chancellor’s landmark pensions review aims to unlock significant investment into the UK economy while enhancing retirement outcomes for millions of pension savers. The review should bring good news for pension savers, but we watch to see whether good intentions can turn into secure retirements for all.

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See: Growth to boost investment

Image source & attribution – Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street, OGL 3 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3, via Wikimedia Commons