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Pensions Bill

Clause 11 is about a possible postponement of the employers’ duties. We had an interesting probing debate on Clause 4, which appears to do much the same thing in providing for the possibility of delaying initial automatic enrolment in circumstances described in the regulations, about which we know nothing—nor will we until well after the Bill is enacted. I therefore ask the Minister why the power in Clause 4 is not enough. Why cannot the two clauses—to use a phrase that he has just used—be conflated? To what kind of employer will the power apply? When do the Government envisage using it? I am even more confused by this clause, which is not clarified by the Explanatory Notes, than I am by Clause 4. I hope that the Minister will be able to relieve my mind and perhaps even educate me.