WORK and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has a 500,000 rise in the number of businesses expecting their staff to start a pension is further evidence of the economy's success.

New figures show 500,000 small employers will have a duty to take part in the Government's landmark workplace pension savings scheme than had been previously thought, new figures show.

Around 1.8 million small and micro employers will need to meet their automatic enrolment pension duties over the next three years compared to previous estimates of 1.3 million due to an increase in business start-ups.

Mr Duncan Smith said: "The growth in the number of businesses expected to help their staff start a pension is further evidence of the success of our economy. The Government's long-term economic plan is giving more people the dignity of a job, the security of a pay cheque, and the chance to save for a decent well-earned retirement."