There is a simple and socially equitable alternative to requiring the purchase of annuities by future retirees within the auto-enrolment system. Within a prescribed monetary limit, allow an option to purchase supplementary social welfare pension from the State. The supplementary pension would be added to a retiree’s normal State pension, would be payable weekly and would qualify for periodic increases to the normal State pension on a proportionate basis. …..The annual amount of supplementary State pension (payable weekly) would be determined as 4 per cent of the amounted invested – a reasonable cost for a pension that would in practice be fully index linked, have a contingent surviving dependant’s pension, have the convenience of weekly payment in conjunction with the retiree’s normal State pension and be State guaranteed.