Chancellor postpones second phase of Pensions Review “indefinitely”

One of Labour’s election manifesto pledges was a detailed Pensions Investment Review, the second phase of which appears to have been postponed “indefinitely”. The interim report of the first phase of the review was published on November 14, 2024.

The interim report set out trends in UK pension fund investment with comparisons to selected countries and outlined proposed measures to achieve scale and consolidation in the defined contribution workplace pensions market and the Local Government Pension Scheme. A raft of measures designed to implement phase one were set out in the Chancellor’s maiden Mansion House speech.

The focus of the second phase is thought to be on pensions adequacy and further measures to improve outcomes for pensioners, such as increasing auto-enrolment contributions and the numbers of employees within scope to join such schemes.

The casualty of increased auto-enrolment inclusion from imminent pension reforms has been greeted with general disappointment from many in the industry. However, following the increase in employer NICs due to take effect from April 6, 2025, the Government has postponed imposing the additional expense of a hike in auto-enrolment contributions.