IDS Pensions Bulletin 233 includes our latest analysis of the overall level of contributions paid by employers to defined benefit schemes. ONS figures show that by the end of March 2009, total employer contributions had fallen to £28,672 million, from a peak of £36,229 in 2005/06, with 91.92 per cent of normal employer contributions being paid into defined benefit schemes. This analysis includes data on the employer contributions paid 135 defined benefit arrangements. It shows that employer contributions to 64 of these schemes had fallen compared with previous years. This issue also includes a summary of the key measures included in regulations relating to workplace pension reforms published by the Government in January 2010. These will begin to take effect from 1 October 2012 take full effect by October 2017. The regulations include detail on employers’ duties regarding auto-enrolment, and establish the National Employment Savings Trust.
In January the 2010 edition of IDS Pension scheme benchmarks was published. This publication continues to monitor the pension arrangements offered by over 35 organisations from a cross-section of sectors, with data being collected over the fourth quarter of 2009.