On 12 March 2007, the government published its repsonse to the 2006 consultation on the abolition of DC contracting-out. The response confirms that DC contracting-out will be abolished, but the effective date of abolition is not announced. It is still unclear how accrued protected rights will be treated in the future after the abolition of DC contracting-out. The government has yet to decide whether it will also abolish the restrictive rules governing the treatment of protected rights. That decision should be made in late 2007.