100 Years of State Pension - Learning from the past

by Tony Salter, Andrew Bryans, Colin Redman and Martin Hewitt

This new book provides a timely and informative history of pensions policy to mark the anniversary of the first payment of the state pension following the Old Age Pensions Act 1908.

The book describes in clear terms the financial, demographic and social problems which politicians, government and private financial providers have grappled with and continue to do so.

It is aimed at all people interested in pensions, public policy, social sciences and history.

The authors combine different backgrounds - in pensions, social policy and actuarial practice - to provide an illuminating perspective on the subtle compromises reached by government in response to campaigns for social reform and pressure from MPs, employers, trade unions, lobby groups and the wider public.

At the Faculty sessional meeting on 16 March 2009, the authors will be giving a presentation of the book and setting the scene for an open discussion on what the state pension is for, what level of benefits the state should provide and a number of associated questions.

• Order form
• Faculty sessional meeting, 16 March 2009

Lord Adair Turner, Chairman of the FSA and the Chairman of the Pensions Commission 2002-2006
The state pension has now been a key element of the British pension system for a century, and the Actuarial Profession have rightly marked the date with a thoughtful review of how our pension system has evolved and its needs in the future.

Pat Thane, Leverhulme Professor of Contemporary British History at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London
This book is an invaluably clear study of a complex topic. It vividly conveys how our pensions system got to where it is now, the real achievements of the past century, and the challenges that remain.

Joe Harris, General Secretary, National Pensioners Convention
This book relates the move from poor relief to the state pension. This easy to read history and informed data illustrate that, regrettably, the abolition of poverty in old age remains a challenge.

The Authors

Tony Salter began his working life in local government service in London in 1947. From 1955 to 2003 he worked in pensions administration and then employee benefit consultancy. He has published articles on pensions policy and was a member of the basic income research group from the early 1980s and a trustee of the Citizens Income Trust from 1989 to 2001.

Andrew Bryans qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and has spent his working life as a consulting actuary, being the Scheme Actuary to the pension schemes of various well known organisations. He retired some four years ago but is still involved in the pensions arena.

Colin Redman qualified as a Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries and has had a wide ranging career. He has worked at General Management and Board level with insurance companies operating in the insured pensions market and he has also been a director of three major advisory firms providing consultancy and administrative services to individuals and pension schemes.

Martin Hewitt joined the Actuarial Profession staff in 2001, having lectured in social policy at the University of Hertfordshire. He has published three books, several articles and book chapters on various social policy topics and has a doctorate in sociology.