The pensions industry has welcomed Torsten Bell’s reappointment as Pensions Minister, arguing that continuity will be vital as the government moves from developing its pensions reform programme to implementing it.

Bell will remain Parliamentary Secretary jointly in HM Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), following Prime Minister, Andy Burnham’s, ministerial reshuffle.

Industry figures said retaining Bell would avoid disruption at a critical stage for reforms spanning pension adequacy, productive investment, consolidation, retirement outcomes and defined benefit (DB) endgame policy.

The updated workplace pensions roadmap set out the sequencing and expected implementation timetable for reforms enabled by the Pension Schemes Act 2026, including changes affecting defined contribution (DC), collective defined contribution (CDC) and DB schemes.

People’s Pension chief executive, Patrick Heath-Lay, described Bell’s reappointment as “welcome continuity” at a time when the industry faced a substantial delivery programme.

“Government reshuffles can be disruptive for any industry, with ministers needing time to get up to speed on their new briefs," he said.

“At this crucial moment for pension reform, it’s fantastic news that we have continuity with Torsten Bell remaining as Minister for Pensions.”

Heath-Lay said Bell had brought “real vision, energy and understanding” to the role, while engaging constructively with the pensions industry.

He highlighted the passage of the Pension Schemes Act and said attention must now turn to implementing the measures set out in the government’s pensions roadmap.

“The entire government agenda on pensions is substantial, spanning market reform, pension adequacy and productive investment, all of which are critical to improving retirement outcomes and supporting economic growth,” he added.

Pensions UK executive director of policy and advocacy, Zoe Alexander, also welcomed the decision, arguing that maintaining momentum would be necessary to turn the government’s proposals into better outcomes for savers.

“Torsten has shown he can deliver ambitious reform as a pensions minister, and we are glad to see him stay in post to see that through," she said.

Alexander stated that Pensions UK would continue engaging with Bell and ministers across the DWP and Treasury on strengthening retirement outcomes, improving pension adequacy and developing a system that worked for both savers and the wider economy.

Broadstone head of policy, David Brooks, stressed that continuity was particularly important given the volume of policy flowing from the Pension Schemes Act alongside other reforms.

He identified the expansion of CDC, the release of DB surplus capital and the delivery of pensions dashboards as areas capable of making a tangible difference to workers, savers, providers and the UK economy.

“Pension policy is a long-term game which needs focus and consistency to ensure the current reforms are implemented in a way that will deliver a sustainable, trusted retirement savings framework for the millions who depend on it in later life,” Brooks added.

Echoing this, Hymans Robertson head of pension policy innovation, Calum Cooper, stated the reappointment provided an opportunity to maintain momentum and increase the government’s focus on delivery.

He noted that progress had been made across adequacy, retirement outcomes, productive finance and pensions dashboards, but argued that the priority should now be converting policy proposals into tangible improvements for savers.

Cooper called for the government to implement automatic enrolment reforms and establish a clear long-term path towards higher contribution levels, stressing that pension policy needed to reflect modern working patterns and ensure that the self-employed, lower earners, carers and people with multiple jobs were not excluded from improved retirement provision.

Meanwhile, Quilter retirement specialist, Adam Cole, acknowledged that while Bell’s continued leadership was positive from a stability perspective, the industry would continue to scrutinise the policy direction taken under his tenure.

“The role of pensions minister has too often felt like a revolving door, with ministers frequently moving on just as they begin to get to grips with the complex challenges facing the retirement system,” he argued.

“Pensions policy requires a genuinely long-term perspective. Decisions taken today can affect savers decades into the future, so continuity of leadership is important.”

Cole noted Bell had previously supported a more interventionist approach in areas including pension investment, consolidation, retirement outcomes and taxation.

However, he warned that some proposals could generate concern where they risked limiting consumer choice or restricting how savers accessed and used retirement funds.

“The real test now will be whether continuity in personnel is matched by continuity in policy,” he continued.

“The pensions sector needs a period of stable and predictable reform rather than constant speculation about the next change.”

Former pensions minister and LCP partner, Steve Webb, also welcomed the decision to keep Bell in post, noting that the industry had avoided having a third pensions minister in less than two years.

He said that Bell had engaged with the role and sought to provide a clear strategic direction for pensions policy, adding that the industry could now expect the recently published roadmap to be implemented “with vigour”.

Webb suggested that retirement CDC would continue to receive government support, while the Pensions Commission’s final recommendations could lead to further primary legislation.

“It is to be hoped that we are seeing a new and welcome era of certainty and continuity in pensions policy,” he concluded.

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