"This uncertainty creates real opportunity for the new secretary of state for work and pensions, Amber Rudd, to quickly make her mark in her new role by prioritising delivery "
Rudd returned to cabinet on Friday to replace Esther McVey, who resigned over the government's draft Brexit deal.
McVey reportedly wanted to "kill off the project" believing the service should not be provided by the state, but later backed the industry to deliver the Dashboard.
Senior figures from over 20 pension providers and administrators have since joined forces to discuss the design and launch of the Dashboard.
In last month's Budget, the government provided an extra £5m in funding for 2019-20 to 'help make Pensions Dashboards a reality'.
In its Budget documents, the government said it supports the launch of multiple Pensions Dashboards which will allow savers to see multiple pension pots, including the State Pension, in one place.
The Budget confirmed that the DWP will consult later this year on the design for an "industry-led approach" to Pensions Dashboards.
Kate Smith, head of pensions at Aegon, said: “We’ve seen ongoing delays in progress on the pension dashboard as well as a lack of clarity from Government on what it will look like. This uncertainty creates real opportunity for the new secretary of state for work and pensions, Amber Rudd, to quickly make her mark in her new role by prioritising delivery of the pension dashboard, especially as we’re hearing that the feasibility study is almost ready to be published.
"Industry has made its support and commitment to the development of the dashboard clear and we now need Government to back the initiative. The first step in this process is for the Department for Work and Pensions to publish its feasibility study and we hope that Rudd will make this a priority and deliver an update on the development of the pension dashboard in a matter of days.”
Steve Webb, director of policy at Royal London, commented: "In a large and complex department like the DWP, there is a risk that the attention of a new secretary of state is quickly focussed on complex and contentious issues like sorting out Universal Credit.
"But pension policy is also of vital importance to millions and we urgently need a secretary of state who gives it the attention that it deserves. A particular priority should be to drive forward the Pensions Dashboard, as well as making sure that there is a Pensions Bill in the next Queen’s Speech. That Bill should make it compulsory for pension schemes and providers to send data to a dashboard, as without compulsion the project will fail.
"Legislation could also be used to improve automatic enrolment, implementing previously agreed improvements such as bringing in younger workers. And DWP should tackle other unfairnesses such as the way in which some low-paid workers do not get tax relief on their pension contributions and the way that thousands of mothers are missing out on credits towards their state pension. There is much to be done in the pensions space and I hope that Amber Rudd will be make time to focus on the changes that are needed."
