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Money Box: David Cameron on Pension Freedoms

David Cameron on Pension Freedoms

18/10/2014

BBC Radio 4 - Money Box, David Cameron on Pension Freedoms

Paul Lewis interviews the prime minister about plans to allow tax-free withdrawals anytime

Paul Lewis interviews the prime minister about new pension withdrawal rules. Plus payday lenders target students, how Christmas savings clubs work and surviving stock market falls.

Paul Lewis interviews David Cameron about plans to allow savers to make tax-free withdrawals from their pension funds whenever they want. Critics say there's a risk people will spend their retirement money too soon or fall into the hands of investment sharks. So why is the Prime Minister so sure it makes financial sense? Paul also gets a view from the pensions industry, discussing the detail of how it all might work with Alan Higham, retirement director at Fidelity.

Students are already burdened with tens of thousands of pounds of debt from Government loans for their tuition fees and living costs. But in addition they are being targeted by payday lenders trying to lend them expensive, short-term debt as well. One debt charity reports that the number of students seeking help with payday loan debts has doubled every year. And this week the Chief Financial Ombudsman, Caroline Wayman, told a parliamentary committee that she was worried about students using payday loans - Paul Lewis asks her what problems she's seeing.

Eight years ago this week the Christmas saving club called Farepak collapsed into administration, taking with it £37 million carefully saved up by more than 100,000 members. After years of campaigning the victims eventually got 50p for every £1 they'd squirreled away. But they've been less successful in their demand to get all Christmas club funds protected in future if the company running them went bust. Reporter Hannah Moore looks at Christmas clubs large and small.

Share prices have been on a long six week fall. By Thursday night the FTSE index of our 100 biggest companies was down ten per cent since September 4th. And tracker funds which follow the index were down slightly more: 11%, because of the fees they charge. Yesterday, shares rallied leaving the price about 8% down. But still a substantial six week loss if that's where your money is. So what's causing it? And for the many people without investments does it matter? Paul Lewis talks to Justin Urquhart-Stewart of Seven Investment Management.

Producer: Ruth Alexander.

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