Treasury pension policy takeover 'profoundly concerning', Steve Webb warns

Ex-pensions minister alarmed by 'Treasury takeover'

clock • 2 min read

The "almost total takeover" of pension policy by the Treasury has been described as "profoundly concerning" by ex-pensions minister and Royal London director of policy Steve Webb.

Speaking at the ILC-UK's Retirement Income Summit, Webb said scrutiny of pension policy during the last government was largely done in the House of Lords where the government does not have a majority and can be defeated. However, Treasury is now exerting more influence over pensions and its legislation is not generally scrutinised by the Lords. He gave the example of the Lifetime ISA (LISA) which has been included in a Finance Bill and so will not be scrutinised in this way. "The Treasury sees itself as a savings department rather than a pensions department which is a profoundly conce...

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