Amendment 71

Part of Pension Schemes Bill [HL] - Report – in the House of Lords at 8:45 pm on 30 June 2020.

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Photo of Baroness Sherlock Baroness Sherlock Shadow Spokesperson (Work and Pensions) 8:45, 30 June 2020

My Lords, we all believe that trustees of DB schemes should have a clearly defined funding and investment strategy for insuring pensions in the long term. However, if that is pursued in a way driven by the need to protect members in closed maturing DB schemes, then schemes with strong covenants open to new entrants risk being swept up in an approach that is wrong for them. As closed DB schemes increasingly mature, the regulator will expect them to de-risk and reduce their deficits. However, if that approach is applied in a blanket form it will force some open schemes to de-risk prematurely, putting pressure on employers and, in the railway scheme with its shared-cost basis, on employees too. Given all the concerns expressed, will the Minister accept this amendment?