My Lords, I, too, am delighted to support the amendment moved by my noble friend Lady Wheatcroft. With her characteristic delicacy and discretion, she did not mention the name of the auditors in question—but I will. I believe that Deloitte has very serious questions still to answer about its audit...

My Lords, I, too, am delighted to support the amendment moved by my noble friend Lady Wheatcroft. With her characteristic delicacy and discretion, she did not mention the name of the auditors in question—but I will. I believe that Deloitte has very serious questions still to answer about its audit...

My Lords, like the noble Lord, Lord Eatwell, I was rather struck by the word ““intergenerational”” in the draft charter for budget responsibility. The Treasury’s objectives for fiscal policy are to, "““ensure sustainable public finances that support confidence in the economy””," which is fine, and, "““promote intergenerational fairness, and ensure...

My Lords, like the noble Lord, Lord Eatwell, I was rather struck by the word ““intergenerational”” in the draft charter for budget responsibility. The Treasury’s objectives for fiscal policy are to, "““ensure sustainable public finances that support confidence in the economy””," which is fine, and, "““promote intergenerational fairness, and ensure...

I am glad that we are starting to get the matter addressed, but this is Committee stage and it is no good, if I may say so, taking a Civil Service attitude of, ““We’ll think about anything that comes in””. This is Committee stage. I have made a proposal and...

I am glad that we are starting to get the matter addressed, but this is Committee stage and it is no good, if I may say so, taking a Civil Service attitude of, ““We’ll think about anything that comes in””. This is Committee stage. I have made a proposal and...

My Lords, I listened at considerable length to the Minister reading out his brief in response to the amendments but I wondered whether, by any chance, he could do me the courtesy of answering my question, which I thought was fairly simple and clear. Why are we having just the...

My Lords, I listened at considerable length to the Minister reading out his brief in response to the amendments but I wondered whether, by any chance, he could do me the courtesy of answering my question, which I thought was fairly simple and clear. Why are we having just the...

I rise briefly strongly to support the amendment. The noble Lord, Lord Sassoon, might be pleased to know that I had the pleasure of serving under the noble Lord, Lord Peston, for several years on the Economic Affairs Committee and sub-committee and he was as peppery then as he is...

I rise briefly strongly to support the amendment. The noble Lord, Lord Sassoon, might be pleased to know that I had the pleasure of serving under the noble Lord, Lord Peston, for several years on the Economic Affairs Committee and sub-committee and he was as peppery then as he is...

It is not just under this Government that that has been happening; it is a problem with the Treasury generally, although it has been happening particularly under this Government. If the Treasury made a bit more effort to answer Questions honestly and fully the first time, we would not need...

It is not just under this Government that that has been happening; it is a problem with the Treasury generally, although it has been happening particularly under this Government. If the Treasury made a bit more effort to answer Questions honestly and fully the first time, we would not need...

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was spent by central government departments and their agencies on audit services in each of the last five years for which information is available.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was spent by central government departments and their agencies on audit services in each of the last five years for which information is available.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure they are getting value for money from audit firms; and what steps they are taking to ensure that medium-sized firms have access to tender processes.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure they are getting value for money from audit firms; and what steps they are taking to ensure that medium-sized firms have access to tender processes.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria are used to determine whether a firm can be put on the approved list for audit services.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria are used to determine whether a firm can be put on the approved list for audit services.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what investigations they have undertaken into the possible savings that might be achieved from using audit services of smaller firms not currently on approved lists.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what investigations they have undertaken into the possible savings that might be achieved from using audit services of smaller firms not currently on approved lists.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which (a) auditors, and (b) firms providing consultancy and advisory services, have been approved for use by departments and their agencies in each of the past five years for which information is available.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which (a) auditors, and (b) firms providing consultancy and advisory services, have been approved for use by departments and their agencies in each of the past five years for which information is available.

My Lords, we support this amendment. The noble Lord, Lord Hoyle, made a powerful case, especially as regards trust, which I shall discuss in a minute, and ensuring that banking services are available, particularly in disadvantaged areas. I am sorry that the noble Lord, Lord Mandelson, is no longer in...

My Lords, we support this amendment. The noble Lord, Lord Hoyle, made a powerful case, especially as regards trust, which I shall discuss in a minute, and ensuring that banking services are available, particularly in disadvantaged areas. I am sorry that the noble Lord, Lord Mandelson, is no longer in...

My Lords, the noble Lord is quite right that he went on to say that. What I objected to was the fact that he said that British bond yields were at a 50-year low, which they were a few weeks ago, but not quite now. Anyway, the key thing for...

My Lords, the noble Lord is quite right that he went on to say that. What I objected to was the fact that he said that British bond yields were at a 50-year low, which they were a few weeks ago, but not quite now. Anyway, the key thing for...

My Lords, I am sorry the noble Baroness feels that a report examining the case ““for”” prejudges the issue; surely in examining the case for, one looks at the arguments on both sides. One inevitably has to phrase it in that way to look at the arguments for a change...

My Lords, I am sorry the noble Baroness feels that a report examining the case ““for”” prejudges the issue; surely in examining the case for, one looks at the arguments on both sides. One inevitably has to phrase it in that way to look at the arguments for a change...

I was suggesting that the guarantee is not nearly as good as one from a British Government or bank.

I was suggesting that the guarantee is not nearly as good as one from a British Government or bank.

The Minister may recall that he was very dismissive of my warnings about Iceland. Can he confirm for the record that there is no British guarantee of any kind for deposits with the Bank of Ireland through the Post Office, and depositors are totally relying on an Irish Government guarantee?...

The Minister may recall that he was very dismissive of my warnings about Iceland. Can he confirm for the record that there is no British guarantee of any kind for deposits with the Bank of Ireland through the Post Office, and depositors are totally relying on an Irish Government guarantee?...

I wished to hear what the Minister and the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, said on this amendment. As the Minister rightly points out, it is a matter of judgment. Having heard both arguments, we on these Benches feel that five years renewable is more sensible than the ““big bang”” decision...

I wished to hear what the Minister and the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, said on this amendment. As the Minister rightly points out, it is a matter of judgment. Having heard both arguments, we on these Benches feel that five years renewable is more sensible than the ““big bang”” decision...

I am happy to correct any impression that I gave. I thought about it as we were talking about auditors and I knew that the noble Baroness had been a partner. I am happy to withdraw anything. I thought that we ought to be particularly careful to declare any potential...

I am happy to correct any impression that I gave. I thought about it as we were talking about auditors and I knew that the noble Baroness had been a partner. I am happy to withdraw anything. I thought that we ought to be particularly careful to declare any potential...

Will the Minister accept from these Benches that what he states as the normal current practice of plcs is correct? I wonder whether he will accept through me the advice to the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, that perhaps she has spent a little too long in this House and not...

Will the Minister accept from these Benches that what he states as the normal current practice of plcs is correct? I wonder whether he will accept through me the advice to the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, that perhaps she has spent a little too long in this House and not...

We on these Benches support the amendment as well. I pay tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Clarke of Hampstead, who as a former postman knows what he is talking about. We are very concerned about the present banking arrangements of the Post Office, specifically its arrangement with the Bank...

We on these Benches support the amendment as well. I pay tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Clarke of Hampstead, who as a former postman knows what he is talking about. We are very concerned about the present banking arrangements of the Post Office, specifically its arrangement with the Bank...