Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to ensure that more self-employed people pay into a private pension scheme.

The Government has taken a number of steps to ensure that self-employed people can pay into pension schemes and save for their retirement.

It has created the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) to offer low-charge pension schemes. The Government has also introduced flexibility through the carry forward of the Annual Allowance to help individuals with irregular earnings, including the self-employed, to contribute more to their pension.

The Government will introduce the Lifetime ISA from 6 April which supports younger adults to save up to £4,000 each year for later in life by providing a generous bonus of up to £1,000 a year on these contributions. Although the Government has made it clear that the Lifetime ISA is not being introduced as a replacement to pension savings products, it will provide an additional option for long term saving to the self-employed.

The Government will also review automatic enrolment this year. The review includes a theme about coverage for those who do not currently benefit from automatic enrolment, including the self-employed.