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Clarification sought over personal accounts contribution limit

Practice group: Employment law


13 June 2008

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Investment Management Association (IMA) have asked pensions minister James Purnell to clarify the annual contribution limit for personal accounts.

He and Lord MacKenzie have given conflicting statements on the issue, leading to confusion among the pensions industry and for employees.

Earlier this month Mr Purnell spoke at the ABI chairman's dinner and said the government is determined that personal accounts will complement rather than replace existing employer schemes.

He said: "That's why we put in an annual limit for individuals in the personal accounts scheme of £3,600.

"And that's why we've said there will be no transfers to and from existing schemes to personal accounts."

But the day before, Lord MacKenzie said in the House of Lords a contribution limit had not been put in the bill to allow for flexibility.

He told the house that consideration would need to be given on whether to introduce the "additional complexity" when the scheme is introduced or to wait until the review in 2017.

A £3,600 cap would be the most appropriate according to the ABI and IMA, as they say a rolling or flexible cap could undermine the private pensions industry.

During the second reading of the pensions bill, Lord Blackwell said it contained a number of deficiencies which threaten existing pension provisions.

He said pensions have been an important part of savings and they must not be diluted.

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