We need to get a grip on retirement saving says Aries Insight's' Ian Neale.

We need to get a grip on retirement saving. People need to know how much they have saved in various pensions during their working life, and where the money actually is now.

Beginning with a government consultation six years ago, the Coalition Government decided on 17 July 2012 that 'pot follows member' was the solution to address the proliferation of small pension pots. The majority of respondents had favoured the alternative 'aggregator' approach, mentioning reasons like lower administrative costs and better protection for individuals.

Enabling legislation for 'pot follows member', an initiative particularly associated with former Pensions Minister Steve Webb, exists in the Pensions Act 2014; but there has been no indication of when - or if - it will be commenced.

Instead, a groundswell of support has since materialised for the pensions dashboard concept, something very like the 'virtual aggregator' preferred by many back in 2012. In Budget 2016, the Government declared it would "ensure the industry designs, funds and launches a pensions dashboard by 2019. This will mean an individual can view all their retirement savings in one place."

The industry swallowed hard and put together a Prototype Project, managed by the ABI with Treasury sponsorship, which demonstrated in May 2017 that the idea was feasible. To retain momentum after the general election in June, industry contributors agreed on a further Project to research consumer needs, engage with the wider industry, refine technical standards and look at how it could be appropriately regulated.

In their report published on 12 October, "Pensions Dashboard Project: Reconnecting people with their pensions", the project group, managed by the ABI and including 16 contributors and the PLSA, set out its recommendations for what should happen next.

The key objective is that consumers should have a right to access information about all of their pensions in one place of their choice in a standardised digital format, through regulated services.

Now "all" is the ideal objective, but Rome wasn't built in a day: there is a general expectation that it might take longer to get trust-based schemes on board than contract-based pensions. An implementation plan and timetable is required. At first, just having all of an individual's pensions listed would be a plus; provided valuations followed in a timely manner.

However, there is a very strong consensus expressed that the DWP must make data about the State Pension available "from day one". Consumers see the State Pension as an anchor

of pensions information and for years to come, it will form the major part of retirement income for most people.

An equally strong consensus formed around compulsion: all pension providers and schemes must make data available. This will require strong Government backing, with legislation and an explicit completion date. Without this, it is unlikely that public sector and trust-based schemes – particularly defined benefit schemes – will contribute as there is no obvious commercial benefit for them, only a cost.

The concept has developed so that multiple pensions dashboards are now envisaged, regulated to ensure consistency, with a governance body to oversee the network, establish and manage data standards, security, and sharing agreements. A non-commercial service, endorsed by the Government, must also be made available in order to build trust and engagement with consumers.

The ball having been lobbed back into the Government's court, it was perhaps encouraging to hear the Pensions Minister declare only a week later that the DWP will take over responsibility for the pensions dashboard "at pace" and "provide a much fuller update in the Spring of next year. There will be absolutely no doubt that the dashboard will happen."

Let us pray.

Ian Neale,Director, Aries Insight.