We welcome the Government's aim to encourage more people to save and invest for their future, and we eagerly await the Government's final proposals on the new 'Sandler' suite of savings products and their pricing. We are also awaiting the outcome of the reviews by the Financial Services Authority into how the advice regime will be operable for the new Sandler products. I hope the final outcomes acknowledge the economic realities of providing such retail savings products to consumers in order that we can properly respond to the needs of those not currently saving enough for their future needs.
In the area of pensions, we were particularly pleased to co-host, with Age Concern, a series of 12 'roadshows' supporting the Government's national consultation on the Pensions Green Paper. Launched in March 2003, this was the most comprehensive public consultative exercise of its kind ever to take place in the UK. The main themes discussed included extending working lives, promoting private pension provision, protecting pension scheme members' interests and simplifying the tax system for pensions.
