Lib Dems propose early access to pension lump sum

Lib Dem work and pensions spokesman Steve Webb proposed the idea in a report for think tank CentreForum. He believes the scheme - Setting Pensions Free - could help boost the economy and salvage the housing market without burdening the taxpayer. Webb says: "In the context of the recession, there's concern about the state of the housing market. But we're uncomfortable with the idea of letting people raid their pensions. "So what if you can have a part of the pension that was never going to be a pension anyway?" He says it is "crazy" to reposess homes owned by people who have, for...