Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department's review of workforce participation will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) different types of pensions systems and (b) the furlough scheme on economic inactivity.

The Prime Minister has tasked the Secretary of State to look in detail at the issue of workforce participation.

We will be looking to identify and understand the barriers preventing people from joining the workforce and/or resulting in people leaving the workforce early.

The work will focus on four cohorts: early retirees, those with a disability or health condition, unpaid carers, and students.

a) DWP are working with HMT to consider if there are potential links between pensions and economic activity.

b) DWP has worked with a range of government departments to understand the labour market impact of the furlough scheme. The available evidence on the labour impact of the furlough scheme will be reviewed where relevant to the four cohorts being focused on.