Employers, consumer organisations and trade unions remain locked in conflict with much of the pensions industry over where the cap should be set for pension saving under the planned personal accounts, due to start in 2012.

John Hutton, the pensions secretary, is due to address the National Association of Pension Funds annual conference today as Which?, the Consumer's Association, yesterday urged him not to revive a proposal to put a cap of £3,000 on the amount people could save every year. It argued the limit should be at least £5,000.