The first hints about how the government intends to attempt to solve the pensions crisis will emerge as early as next month, it was revealed yesterday.

While the long-awaited final report of the Turner pensions commission will not be published until late autumn, David Blunkett said he wanted to give people "a bit of a steer" about the likely framework and direction.

In his first major speech as work and pensions secretary, just days into the job, Mr Blunkett said he didn't have the answers yet but was up for the challenge of finding a long-term solution to the pension problems that Britain faces.

He has already refused to rule out the introduction of compulsory pensions, and yesterday he reiterated that he wanted to be able to consider "all the options people have discussed".

But he added: "The fact that I have not ruled anything out does not mean I've automatically ruled something in."

Last year the pensions commission, headed by the former CBI director general Adair Turner, warned that 12 million Britons were failing to save enough for their old age.

The final report with recommendations, which are expected to form the basis for future pensions policy, is due towards the end of this year.

Mr Blunkett said he had already met Mr Turner, and the commission and ministers were planning a joint seminar next month. He said they were keen to give "a bit of a steer on what the direction will be so that over the summer and autumn we can begin the consultation, so that when Adair produces the final report, people are at least familiar with the likely framework and direction".

He and his ministerial colleagues would be travelling around the country, talking to the public and industry.

Responding to recent comments by Gordon Brown's supporters that any major changes in pensions policy, such as compulsory pensions, were years away, Mr Blunkett said he had made clear there was no way he could take on the job "and have parameters already set".

But in his speech Mr Blunkett paid tribute to the "enormous amount" Mr Brown had done on making work pay and helping to overcome the challenge of poverty in retirement.

The minister said he did not believe there was an immediate pensions crisis "but we will have one if we don't do something about it". The crucial questions to be answered were "who pays and how, and at what point do we become entitled".