Small firms and older workers will not be exempted from auto-enrolment

The independent panel tasked with making the 2012 reform package more cost-effective will publish its findings within seven days of next week’s comprehensive spending review.

In consulting for its report, handed to pensions minister Steve Webb (pictured) last month, the panel was strongly lobbied to exempt the smallest businesses from having to auto-enroll staff into a workplace scheme.

Alongside a further exemption for staff older than 55, it was widely speculated this would form part of the recommendations. But sources close to the review have informed schemeXpert.com neither suggestion has made the final submission.

It is also understood pressure from the Confederation of British Industry to introduce a three-month lag between hiring and auto-enroling, has paid off, as first reported in schemeXpert.com last month.