Personal accounts : fifth report of session 2006-07, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes

In light of current estimates that around seven million people are currently undersaving for retirement, the Government published a White Paper ("Personal accounts: a new way to Save", Cm. 6975, ISBN 9780101697521) in December 2006, setting out proposals to reform the private pensions system and promote a new pensions saving culture.

It sought to introduce a new scheme of personal accounts to provide access for people on moderate to low incomes to affordable and trusted, low-cost pension saving.

All eligible employees would be automatically enrolled in either a personal account or an employer-sponsored scheme, with a new national minimum employer contribution of three per cent and tax relief equivalent to one per cent.The Committee's report welcomes the proposals for a new system of personal accounts and makes a number of recommendations designed to ensure the system is as simple as possible for employers and employees and operates effectively, including using the PAYE system to collect contributions; the level of choice of funds available and the adequacy of provision of financial advice. It also highlights the need for people to be encouraged to start saving for retirement immediately and not put it off until the scheme is established in 2012, in order to avoid the risk of creating a generation of non-savers.