Pension Schemes Bill: Commons stages

The Pension Schemes Bill 2016-2017

Summary of the Bill

The Pension Schemes Bill aims to:

• protect savers and maintain confidence in pension savings.
• ensure that those saving into a Master Trust scheme, a form of multi-employer occupational pension scheme which employers are able to select for their workers rather than needing to set up their own pension scheme, are protected.
• amend existing legislation to support the Government’s intention to cap early exit charges and ban member-borne commission charges in certain occupational pensions schemes.

Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers, on the Pension Schemes Bill and find out how a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.

• Follow Bills before Parliament: Pension Schemes Bill
• About Parliament: Passage of a Bill through Parliament

Pension Schemes Bill: Commons stages

Royal Assent

The Pension Schemes Bill received Royal Assent on 27 April 2017 becoming an Act of Parliament (law).

Report Stage and Third Reading

Wednesday 29 March

The Pension Schemes Bill passed with Report stage and Third Reading with amendments on Wednesday 29 March and returned to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. The House of Lords agreed to the Commons amendments and the Bill received Royal Assent on 27 April 2017.

• Watch Parliament TV: remaining stages of the Pension Schemes Bill
• Read Commons Hansard: Pension Schemes Bill
• Read proposed amendments to the Pensions Schemes Bill
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Pensions

Wednesday 22 March

The Report stage and Third Reading of the Bill were originally scheduled to take place on Wednesday 22 March. The debate was suspended at 2.44pm because of the security incident at Westminster.

• Watch Parliament TV: Report stage of the Pensions Schemes Bill : 22 March 2017 (suspended at 2.44pm)
• Read Commons Hansard: Report stage of the Pension Schemes Bill : 22 March 2017 (suspended at 2.44pm)

Public Bill Committee 

Committee stage is where detailed examination of the Bill takes place. Most Committees are able to take evidence from experts and interest groups from outside Parliament.

The Pensions Schemes Bill Committee last met on Tuesday 7 February 2017.

Find out more about the Public Bill Committee:

• Pensions Schemes Bill: Public Bill Committee membership, proceedings and written evidence

Second Reading 

MPs debated the main principles of the Pension Schemes Bill at its Second Reading debate on 30 January 2017. The Bill passed its Second Reading without a division.

• Watch Parliament TV: Second Reading of the Pension Schemes Bill
• Read Commons Hansard: Second Reading of the Pension Schemes Bill 
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Pensions

Related information

House of Commons Library analysis

The House of Commons Library produces briefing papers to inform MPs and their staff of key issues. The papers contain factual information and a range of opinions on each subject, and aim to be politically impartial.

The Library published a briefing paper for Second Reading.

• Read Library briefing paper: Pension Schemes Bill 

Watching proceedings from the public gallery

UK residents and overseas visitors can watch proceedings in the House of Commons by visiting the public gallery.

• How to attend a debate in the Chamber or in Westminster Hall

Follow @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.

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