The impending introduction of stakeholder pensions represents one of the major decisions of the current Labour Government. Stakeholder pensions form part of a major overhaul of the present welfare system. However, with only ten months before its introduction, the majority of the UK adult population have not heard of it. Perhaps the most worrying situation is that many people not currently making pension arrangements might find themselves in serious financial difficulty when retirement comes. Already, the government has made the admission that the current system will fail to provide an adequate income. The government is faced with the challenge of changing consumer perceptions towards retirement provision.

· Are employers ultimately responsible for stakeholder success?

· Will wealthier consumers be able to exploit the tax loophole?

This report focuses on the impending introduction of stakeholder pensions in the UK. A great deal of publicity has been given to the fact that the population is ageing and that dependency ratio is stretching. While the more affluent groups look to exploit the possibilities of a reduced tax bill, those at the other end of the economic scale are less inclined to take out a stakeholder pension. In the majority of cases they do not think they can afford it. Why is change needed in the pensions market? Will stakeholder pensions create new problems to employers? Stakeholder Pensions assesses both the benefits and drawbacks before their introduction.

Other Mintel reports of interest include:

- Individual Savings Accounts, Finance Intelligence, May 2000

- Special Report, The Internet and Financial Services, February 2000

- Long Term Care, Finance Intelligence, January 2000

- Life Protection, Finance Intelligence, December 1999

- AVCs and FSAVCs, Finance Intelligence, November 1999

- Post-family Pensions, Finance Intelligence, September 1999

- Family Pensions, Finance Intelligence, August 1999

- Pre-family Pensions, Finance Intelligence, June 1999

- Premium Pensions, Finance Intelligence, April 2000

- Retirement Provision, Finance Intelligence, April 1999

- Personal Pensions, Finance Intelligence, March 2000

and the forthcoming:

- Pensions: The Grey Market, Finance Intelligence, July 2000

- Private/Occupational Balance in Pension Provision, Finance Intelligence, September 2000

- New Technology and Financial Services, Finance Intelligence, December 2000.

If you want more details about this particular report, please contact the Mintel information team on +44 (0)20 7606 6000 or email them at enquiries@mintel.com.