Auto-enrolment regulations 'are in place'

A package of regulatory measures has been announced by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), which are designed to ease businesses in to the auto-enrolment initiative.

In addition to the revised timetable for the scheme announced last week, it is hoped these offerings will make it easier for companies to plan for their staging dates and the necessary administrative work after that.

However, the new timetable has been criticised for adding further delays to the scheme, with general secretary of the Trades Union Congress Brendan Barber noting it will not be fully in place until three years after the next general election.

Minister for pensions Steve Webb welcomed the new regulations, stating they "provide key legal requirements and guidance to help employers start enrolling their staff later this year". 

"Automatic-enrolment can now begin and start a much-needed seismic shift in pension saving in this country," the minister continued, acknowledging concerns there is a national retirement fund crisis.