Q1 Name Answ ered: 135 Skipped: 4

Transcription

1 Q1 Name Answ ered: 135 Skipped: 4 1 / 16

2 Q2 Company (optional): Answ ered: 61 Skipped: 78 2 / 16

3 Q3 Answ ered: 135 Skipped: 4 3 / 16

4 Q4 Phone: Answ ered: 62 Skipped: 77 4 / 16

5 Q5 It would be extremely helpful if you could confirm where you are based. This will assist our analysis of the results of this survey and allow us to highlight any trends amongst the views received. Answ ered: 132 Skipped: 7 Scotland England Wales Northern Ireland Scotland England Wales Northern Ireland 40.91% % % 2 0% 0 Total / 16

6 Q6 The question to be asked on Thursday 18 September 2014 is: Should Scotland be an independent country? Yes or No? Do you have an opinion? Answ ered: 131 Skipped: 8 For Against Not sure Rather not say For Against Not sure Rather not say 15.27% % % % 4 Total / 16

7 Q7 State Pension Age for both men and women will reach 65 by December 2018 and will then increase to 66 by October Under existing arrangements, a further increase to 67 will take place between 2026 and The Scottish Government has not committed to the timetable for the planned increase in State Pension Age to 67. Instead, they wish to set up an independent commission in Scotland to review what the State Pension Age in Scotland should be. With regard to this proposal are you; Answ ered: 128 Skipped: 11 a) Supportiv e of this approach b) Not supportiv e of this approach c) Prefer another option,... d) Don t know. a) Supportive of this approach b) Not supportive of this approach c) Prefer another option, please state below d) Don t know % % % % 6 Total / 16

8 Q8 The Scottish Government has recently published a White Paper on pensions entitled Pensions in an independent Scotland : 13/09/3492 The paper contains many proposals and costings are provided for four of them in Annex B. What is your view of the White Paper? Answ ered: 128 Skipped: 11 a) Agree w ith it in broad terms b) Disagree w ith it in broad terms c) Would like to see more costi... d) Undecided. a) Agree with it in broad terms b) Disagree with it in broad terms c) Would like to see more costings to make an informed choice d) Undecided. 7.81% 10 25% % % 42 Total / 16

9 Q9 The same pension provisions apply to people residing in both Scotland and the rest of the UK. They are members of pension schemes where the same UK wide tax rules and regulations apply. They are also entitled to receive the same benefits from the State Pension arrangements. What do you think would be the impact of independence on pension provision in Scotland? Answ ered: 132 Skipped: 7 a) Very Positiv e b) Broadly Positiv e c) Neutral d) Broadly Negativ e e) Very Negativ e a) Very Positive b) Broadly Positive c) Neutral d) Broadly Negative e) Very Negative 0.76% % % % % 25 Total / 16

10 Q10 The Pension Protection Fund s (PPF s) main function is to provide compensation to members of eligible defined benefit pension schemes, when there is a qualifying insolvency event in relation to the employer, and where there are insufficient assets in the pension scheme to cover the PPF level of compensation. The PPF is funded by levies raised on all pension schemes which are potentially eligible for admission into the PPF throughout the UK. Members who have reached their scheme s normal pension age at the time of the qualifying insolvency event generally receive their full pension from the PPF. Those individuals who have not yet retired will receive up to 90% of their anticipated benefits, subject to an over-riding cap. The increases to the pension and the pension payable to a spouse or a dependent on death may be lower from the PPF. Should an independent Scotland seek to remain involved in the UK-wide Pension Protection Fund? Answ ered: 132 Skipped: 7 a) Yes b) No - start again but w ith t... c) No - start again w ith a... d) Don't know 10 / 16

11 a) Yes b) No - start again but with the same or similar design c) No - start again with a different design d) Don't know 45.45% % % % 6 Total / 16

12 Q11 It has been suggested that pension schemes operating between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK could be classified as cross border arrangements if Scotland were to become a European Union (EU) member state in its own right. The implications of this for defined benefit schemes are likely to be that they would have to be fully funded at all times and would be required to undertake annual actuarial valuations. In your opinion would cross border pension schemes have to be fully funded at all times in the event of a yes vote? Answ ered: 127 Skipped: 12 a) Yes b) No, Scotland w ould obta... c) No, such schemes w ould be split... d) No, a grace period in... a) Yes b) No, Scotland would obtain a derogation from the EU c) No, such schemes would be split between Scottish and UK schemes d) No, a grace period in line with the current Pensions Regulator regime would apply 39.37% % % % 30 Total / 16

13 Q12 A key decision for an independent Scotland would be the choice of currency. A decision on currency is not likely to be long delayed after any yes vote to avoid any negative impacts arising from uncertainty. It is anticipated that the Scottish government will discuss and/or agree this matter quickly with both the rest of the UK Government and the EU. They have indicated that they wish to retain the pound. Which currency option do you believe an independent Scotland should adopt? Answ ered: 131 Skipped: 8 a) join the Euro b) retain the pound c) create its ow n currency d) another option, please state a) join the Euro b) retain the pound c) create its own currency d) another option, please state 14.50% % % % 10 Total / 16

14 Q13 Scotland has a different age profile than Great Britain as a whole. A slightly larger proportion of the population in Scotland are of pensionable age than throughout the UK. A smaller proportion of the Scottish population is in employment and contributing to tax and national insurance revenues. A smaller fraction of the Scottish population are children, compared to the UK. The Scottish Government has committed to retaining the triple lock guarantee whereby State Pensions would be increased each year in line with the maximum of the Consumer Prices Index rate of inflation, the change in average earnings and 2.5%, initially for the period of the first independent parliament. The UK government will uprate the single tier pension by earnings. Assuming that no other changes are made to pensions policy by the Scottish Government, do you expect that Scotland will have a greater State Pensions bill per head than the rest of the UK? Answ ered: 132 Skipped: 7 a) Yes b) No c) It w ill be much the same d) Don t know 14 / 16

15 a) Yes b) No c) It will be much the same d) Don t know 77.27% % % % 8 Total / 16

16 Q14 Scotland s financial services sector has a strong, interlinked relationship with the rest of the UK and is a significant part of the Scottish economy. How would this sector perform if Scotland were to be independent? Answ ered: 132 Skipped: 7 a) Better b) The same c) Less w ell d) Don t know a) Better b) The same c) Less well d) Don t know 4.55% % % % 14 Total / 16