Eleven thousand more people in Gloucester are now saving for a pension than in 2012, since the new auto enrolment workplace pension was introduced.

Gloucester MP Richard Graham (pictured), who was Chair of the All Party Pensions Group 2010-2018, said this was a direct result of bold decisions taken by the coalition government to enable more constituents to prepare for their retirement.

Richard said: "It's been more successful than anyone expected, with over nine million new savers nationally. It's a good deal because it's deducted from payroll without any tax, and for every pound you put in, the government and your employer both add a pound each. That's a three-for-one deal that 9,300,000 more savers nationally and 11,000 in Gloucester have signed up to since the 2012 Act. It's a huge achievement."

Richard said the importance of a pension to retirement can't be underestimated and there is still work to do.

"At the moment auto enrolment still excludes quite a lot of earners: those under 22, or earning less than £10,000 or self-employed. And the amounts being saved, though a huge increase, still need to increase. I hope that the upcoming Statuary Instrument will make some progress on this."

"Longer term, the government plans to reduce the age threshold from 22 to 18 and to ensure that pension contributions will be paid from the first pound earned. This will provide an incentive for those earning salaries below the auto-enrolment earnings trigger to opt in to a scheme and will be particularly helpful for anybody working multiple jobs."