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Written Question
Occupational Pensions: Erith and Thamesmead
Tuesday 8th October 2019

Asked by: Teresa Pearce (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people in Erith and Thamesmead constituency have (a) opted out after being auto-enrolled into a workplace pension and (b) saved more than the auto-enrolment minimum contribution.

Answered by Guy Opperman

Automatic enrolment has achieved a quiet revolution through getting employees into the habit of pension saving, and reversing the decline in workplace pension participation in the decade prior to these reforms. Since automatic enrolment started in 2012 participation rates have been transformed with 87% of eligible employees saving into a workplace pension in 2018, up from 55% in 2012.

The Department does not hold data for individual constituencies in relation to opt outs or the number of individuals who have saved above the automatic enrolment minimum contribution level. However, we do know that overall around 9% of automatically enrolled workers have chosen to opt out which is significantly below original estimates; and our latest evaluation report shows that, in April 2017, approximately 5.9 million eligible employees were already meeting the April 2019 minimum contribution rates.

I am providing the following information about the impact of automatic enrolment in your constituency, as of August 2019:

In the Erith and Thamesmead constituency, since 2012, approximately 5,000 eligible jobholders have been automatically enrolled and 1,180 employers have met their duties.

Automatic Enrolment Evaluation Report 2018, available via the following weblink: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/764964/Automatic_Enrolment_Evaluation_Report_2018.pdf.

The Pensions Regulator’s data on Automatic enrolment declaration of compliance by constituency, available via the following weblink: https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 07 Dec 2015
Oral Answers to Questions

"22. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of changes to housing benefit announced in the spending review and autumn statement 2015 on people under 35...."
Teresa Pearce - View Speech

View all Teresa Pearce (Lab - Erith and Thamesmead) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 07 Dec 2015
Oral Answers to Questions

"Research shows that it is fairly unusual for people under 35 without children to be given social housing, but the exception to that is care leavers. Can the Minister let the House know whether there will be any safeguards or exemptions for vulnerable care leavers?..."
Teresa Pearce - View Speech

View all Teresa Pearce (Lab - Erith and Thamesmead) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 03 Mar 2015
Housing Costs (Reformed Welfare System)

"I am pleased to have the opportunity to participate in this debate. It was very well opened by my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen South (Dame Anne Begg), who is a dedicated and inspirational Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee. I want to put on the record my …..."
Teresa Pearce - View Speech

View all Teresa Pearce (Lab - Erith and Thamesmead) contributions to the debate on: Housing Costs (Reformed Welfare System)
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 03 Mar 2015
Housing Costs (Reformed Welfare System)

"It is true that solutions can be found. Sadly, no one seems to have found them yet in my part of south-east London.

The Work and Pensions Committee looked at the problems that are faced by people on housing benefit. They are discriminated against when looking for private rented accommodation. …..."
Teresa Pearce - View Speech

View all Teresa Pearce (Lab - Erith and Thamesmead) contributions to the debate on: Housing Costs (Reformed Welfare System)
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 03 Mar 2015
Housing Costs (Reformed Welfare System)

"That is a valid point. It is something that we all encounter locally when we talk to housing providers. It needs to be addressed, so I thank my hon. Friend for her intervention.

Another problem for private renters is that the change to local housing allowance is further restricting their …..."
Teresa Pearce - View Speech

View all Teresa Pearce (Lab - Erith and Thamesmead) contributions to the debate on: Housing Costs (Reformed Welfare System)
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 03 Mar 2015
Housing Costs (Reformed Welfare System)

"I will finish by saying that I think this is a most urgent issue. I do not usually quote from Conservative manifestos, but the 1951 Conservative manifesto said:

“Housing is the first of the social services. It is also one of the keys to increased productivity. Work, family life, health …..."
Teresa Pearce - View Speech

View all Teresa Pearce (Lab - Erith and Thamesmead) contributions to the debate on: Housing Costs (Reformed Welfare System)
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 03 Mar 2015
Housing Costs (Reformed Welfare System)

"indicated assent...."
Teresa Pearce - View Speech

View all Teresa Pearce (Lab - Erith and Thamesmead) contributions to the debate on: Housing Costs (Reformed Welfare System)
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 21 Jan 2015
Personal Independence Payments

"It is a privilege to have this debate under your chairmanship, Sir Roger. I am pleased to see other Members here today to discuss such an important issue. I will try to keep the length of my speech to a minimum since I have several questions that I would like …..."
Teresa Pearce - View Speech

View all Teresa Pearce (Lab - Erith and Thamesmead) contributions to the debate on: Personal Independence Payments
Written Question
Employment and Support Allowance
Wednesday 10th December 2014

Asked by: Teresa Pearce (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of savings to the public purse from preventing claimants being paid the employment and support allowance (ESA) assessment rate if they have been found fit for work and then reapply for ESA.

Answered by Lord Harper

The information requested is contained within the Autumn Statement 2014: policy costings document which can be accessed via the following weblink – the relevant page is 66:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/382330/AS2014_Policy_costings.pdf