I draw attention again to paragraph (b). Regulations will be made requiring any person

“to preserve those records for such period, not exceeding 6 years, as may be prescribed”.

That is already a legal requirement in respect of many other bits of information. I think that there is a requirement on us as individuals to retain information for tax purposes for up to that length of time. It is essential to have those requirements in place, because it is important to have the means to hand to deal with any dispute that may arise over records that are kept.

The important point about records relating to contributions to pension schemes of this type is that the scheme will also hold the records, presumably the whole way through. There need not be a burdensome duty on employers to retain the records for ever, but retaining them for a reasonable time is sensible. The point about the clause is to what extent the Government take powers to demand that employers maintain the records. As the clause says, it is for up to six years. Employers will obviously need to be aware, and will be informed by the education process that we will have to go into when this measure is introduced, of the importance of retaining the records. As I said to the hon. Lady, this is not a unique provision; it exists in respect of many other requirements to retain records for similar purposes.