The PLSA has responded to the Law Commission’s consultation on pension funds and social investment. Our response highlights the challenges that smaller pension funds face in terms of accessing investment opportunities in infrastructure and other forms of social investment, and highlights the work of the Pensions Infrastructure Platform in resolving this challenge.

The response also cites PLSA research indicating that pension savers want their money to be invested in a responsible, sustainable and socially useful fashion but suggests it is a major challenge to get people to engage with where their savings are invested. Encouraging a focus on raising the standards of DC default funds in respect of social or responsible investment may be more fruitful than encouraging individuals to opt for social/responsible options beyond the default.