The government today published the draft Pensions Bill on the single tier, flat-rate state pension and it has asked the Work and Pensions Committee to conduct the pre-legislative scrutiny of the reform proposals.

The draft Bill will include proposals for a minimum qualifying period to qualify for a pension, which will mean that by 2040 almost 400,000 people living overseas, outside the EEA, will not qualify as a result of the reforms. It will also propose a framework for regular, independently-led reviews of state pension age, and measures to strengthen existing private pensions legislation.

The Work and Pensions Committee said it will issue its call for evidence in the next few days and has been asked to report no later than the Easter parliamentary recess, which begins on 27 March.

Chairman of the Work and Pensions Committee Dame Anne Begg MP said: “The proposed changes to the state pension contained in the draft Bill will have a huge impact on society, not just in the immediate future, but for decades to come.

“It is therefore vitally important that Parliament gets these reforms right.

“One way of ensuring we get them right is by subjecting the proposals to rigorous and effective scrutiny. The pre-legislative scrutiny process is a key part of this, and I am pleased that the government has invited the Committee to undertake this task.

“We will examine the government’s proposals carefully and look forward to playing our part in ensuring they work well for the millions of people who will be affected by them.”

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