Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 13 September 2016 to Question 45590, what representations he has made to the Defined Benefit pension sector on pension deficits reported in September 2016; what steps his Department is taking to support that sector in decreasing their deficit; and if he will make a statement.

We are continuing to look at issues affecting DB schemes and we have been exploring whether there is more that this Government can do. However, any potential changes would need to be considered very carefully against the need to ensure appropriate protection for members, the impact on business, and the needs of the wider economy.