To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the feasibility of a faster implementation of his proposals for pension reform. [79865]

The Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill provides a framework for stakeholder pension schemes which should enable people to join the new schemes from April 2001. The Government propose to introduce the new State Second Pension from April 2002.We do not consider it practicable to implement our proposals any more quickly, given the extensive changes to operational systems that will be required following passage of the necessary legislation. These impact not only on Government but also on employers and the pensions industry.