Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a Government-backed Collective Defined Contribution scheme for self-employed workers.

The proportion of the self-employed who are saving into a pension has fallen significantly, from almost 50% in the late 1990s to less than 20% at present. As highlighted in the Pensions Commission’s interim report, for those whose income solely comes from self-employment, only 4% are contributing to a pension.

While self-employed workers are not eligible for Automatic Enrolment, the National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) must accept individuals who are self-employed, who wish to join a pension scheme.

The Pensions Commission has been asked to explore wider steps to improve pension outcomes, including for the self-employed. The Commission published its interim report on 19 May 2026, setting out areas of focus on the longer-term challenges around retirement adequacy, especially for those at the greatest risk of undersaving. The Government will set out its plans following the Pensions Commission’s final report, which is due in early 2027.