Policy Reunion: Pensions Commission

As part of our Better policy-making project, along with the Political Studies Association (PSA), we are running a series of 'policy reunion' seminars with the Political Studies Association on policies its members ranked as successes of the last 30 years in an Institute survey.

The panel

The Commission

• Lord Adair Turner - Chairman of the Pensions Commission (2002-06)
• Baroness Jeannie Drake - Commissioner (2002-6)
• Trevor Huddleston - Head of the Pensions Commission Secretariat (2002-4)
• Chris Dobson - Head of Pensions Commission Secretariat (2004-6)

The Department

• Rt Hon James Purnell - Member of Select Committee on Pensions (2001-03), Minister of State for Pensions (2006-7) and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions(2008-9)
• Phil Wynn Owen -  Director-General, Strategy and Pensions, DWP (2004-9)
• Alan Woods - Director of State Pensions and Pension Reform, DWP (2004-10)

Whitehall

• Gareth Davies, Adviser, Number 10 Policy Unit

External

• Ms Joanne Seagar OBE - Head of Pensions and Savings at the Association of British Insurers (2001-2005)
• Director of Policy at National Association of Pensions Fund (2005-October 2006), Chief Executive (October 2006-present)

Academic discussant - Professor Andrew Massey, Professor of Public Administration, Exeter University

About the event

On 9 December, the Institute for Government and the Political Studies Association held a 'policy reunion' of the key players involved in the work of the Pensions Commission.

The Pensions Commission was established by the 2002 Pensions Green Paper to review "the regime for UK private pensions and long-term savings" in the context of changing demographics and saving habits.

Chaired by IFG Director, Lord Andrew Adonis, the panel:

• discussed how the policy was developed and critical decisions were made
• explored the interactions between Ministers and civil servants, departments and the outside world
• drew out lessons for present-day policy makers.

Future reunions will look at the minimum wage, devolution, and reducing smoking rates.

Event podcast