Finance Bill

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. As my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury made clear in the debate in the whole House, it is important to set out the principle behind the generous tax relief that we provide for pension savings. First, we believe that generous tax relief is provided to support pension saving, where that produces an income in retirement. Pension tax relief is not there to support pre-retirement income, nor to support accumulation or inheritance. Secondly, we believe that pensions should get more favourable tax treatment compared to other forms of savings, in recognition of the fact that they are less flexible than other savings and are locked away until retirement. Thirdly, we believe that incentives for employer contributions should be provided and, finally, we consider the pensions tax incentives must be affordable and fall within the current fiscal projections. Given that we are talking at the moment, in 2006-07, about a total of £16 billion of tax incentives to encourage people to save for retirement, as a sensible and proper Government we need to make sure that we use that £16 billion wisely. That is why it is right to take these issues seriously.