Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are planning to ensure that workers earning below £11,500 a year who are automatically enrolled into Net Pay Schemes are able to obtain the tax relief they are due; if so, how; and if not, whether they intend to introduce alternative measures to ensure that either (1) the employer, or (2) the pension provider, compensates such low earners for the money they lose out on.

The Government recognises the different impacts on workers earning below the personal allowance. However, it has not been possible to identify any straightforward or proportionate means to align the effects of the net pay and relief at source mechanisms more closely for this population.

Workplace pension schemes are chosen by employers and the Pensions Regulator provides guidance on this in relation to automatic enrolment. The guidance covers the choice between net pay and relief at source schemes, and the implications of net pay schemes for employees who do not pay tax. It also says that some schemes that use the net pay arrangement may have lower charges than schemes that operate relief at source.