Oral Answers to Questions

Steve Baker Excerpts

Monday 8th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Steve Webb]

I discussed this issue with my officials recently. We will publish the figures shortly, but we know that a significant proportion of women are applying successfully for the domestic violence exemption from the £20 fee. We have made the rules relating to access to the exemption as relaxed as possible, and the domestic violence charities with which we have worked believe that we have drawn the right definition for the purpose.

[Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con)]

20. What steps he has taken to help small businesses prepare for automatic enrolment.

[The Minister for Pensions (Steve Webb)]

We have deferred the date by which small businesses must be automatically enrolled, and have made a number of other changes to ensure that the system works best for them.

[Steve Baker]

When the time does come, how are the very smallest firms to choose a suitable pension scheme?

[Steve Webb]

When the Pensions Regulator notifies employers of their automatic enrolment duties, that letter flags the National Employment Savings Trust, which was designed with small businesses in particular in mind, but the regulator is considering putting more information on its website about other potential providers. I shall be hosting an event in the House for all Members to help them to support small businesses in their constituencies.