Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst

Conservative — Solihull West and Shirley

Speaking in the House of Commons on 17 December 2025

Debate

National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill

Contribution

The Minister is right that people should be putting into their pensions and we should encourage them to do so, but we should not put forward legislation that disincentivises that. In respect of women, it is a fact that they are more likely to take career breaks and, by virtue of that, they may want to make up their contributions. This legislation will disadvantage those individuals. The salary sacrifice scheme has become the bedrock of the modern pension system in the workplace. By decreasing gross pay, it decreases employer national insurance contributions and allows firms to invest more in their people. That is a positive step. My fear is that, as a consequence of this piece of legislation, many employers may scale back those contributions, cut other benefits associated with work or even discontinue schemes entirely. If we want a country that values responsibility and rewards work, and in which people make long-term plans for their economic security, I am afraid that the Bill takes us in entirely the wrong direction.

More from Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst

Other recent Hansard contributions by the same speaker.

About Hansard

Hansard is the official verbatim record of proceedings in the UK Parliament. Every word spoken in the Commons and Lords is recorded and published — this page is a single contribution from that record.

For Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst's full parliamentary record including voting history, expenses and all other contributions, see the Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst report card.