Moved by

Lord Palmer of Childs Hill

120: After Clause 96, insert the following new Clause—

“Report on the impact of pension market consolidation

(1) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, publish a report on the impact of consolidation in the occupational pensions...

Moved by

Lord Palmer of Childs Hill

120: After Clause 96, insert the following new Clause—

“Report on the impact of pension market consolidation

(1) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, publish a report on the impact of consolidation in the occupational pensions...

My Lords, in leading once again on this Bill, I say that this group is bound together by a simple question: is the pensions system working as it should for its members and do we have the evidence to judge this properly? The proposed review is on consolidation, access to...

My Lords, in leading once again on this Bill, I say that this group is bound together by a simple question: is the pensions system working as it should for its members and do we have the evidence to judge this properly? The proposed review is on consolidation, access to...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her reply—and she got to the crux of the matter. We are trying to make sure that there is information and advice for people who do not have easy access to that information and advice. I take her reassurances that the Government are...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her reply—and she got to the crux of the matter. We are trying to make sure that there is information and advice for people who do not have easy access to that information and advice. I take her reassurances that the Government are...

My Lords, people often wonder, speak and write about whether the House of Lords performs a valid function. This group of amendments justifies the House of Lords in one fell swoop. In this group, the Government are proposing 20 amendments to their own Bill, which shows that it had not...

My Lords, people often wonder, speak and write about whether the House of Lords performs a valid function. This group of amendments justifies the House of Lords in one fell swoop. In this group, the Government are proposing 20 amendments to their own Bill, which shows that it had not...

I accept the Minister’s answer.

I accept the Minister’s answer.

My Lords, what can I do but say that I welcome these amendments? They are overdue and I hope they will pass with no dissension.

My Lords, what can I do but say that I welcome these amendments? They are overdue and I hope they will pass with no dissension.

My Lords, this group brings together a number of proposed new clauses on the wider health and fairness of the pensions system: public service pension availability; intergenerational fairness; the impact of the Act on retirement incomes; barriers to UK investment; and member engagement and rights. In addition, my amendment proposes...

My Lords, this group brings together a number of proposed new clauses on the wider health and fairness of the pensions system: public service pension availability; intergenerational fairness; the impact of the Act on retirement incomes; barriers to UK investment; and member engagement and rights. In addition, my amendment proposes...

That is always best.

That is always best.

My Lords, I say to the noble Lord, Lord Davies, that no apology is needed.

This is a wide-ranging set of review and process amendments. The noble Viscount, Lord Younger, explained what I think he described as his “modest” amendments—indeed, they are. The noble Lord, Lord Kirkhope, said that this was...

My Lords, I say to the noble Lord, Lord Davies, that no apology is needed.

This is a wide-ranging set of review and process amendments. The noble Viscount, Lord Younger, explained what I think he described as his “modest” amendments—indeed, they are. The noble Lord, Lord Kirkhope, said that this was...

My Lords, I forgive the technicalities. This group—I will not speak at length on it—focuses on employer communications and decision-making. These are not peripheral issues. Poor communications, which there often are, and unclear boundaries between information, guidance and advice, can directly affect member outcomes. Amendment 208 asks for a review...

My Lords, I forgive the technicalities. This group—I will not speak at length on it—focuses on employer communications and decision-making. These are not peripheral issues. Poor communications, which there often are, and unclear boundaries between information, guidance and advice, can directly affect member outcomes. Amendment 208 asks for a review...

Moved by

Lord Palmer of Childs Hill

216: After Clause 117, insert the following new Clause—

“Independent review into injustices in occupational pension schemes

(1) The Secretary of State must, within three months of the day on which this Act is passed, commission an independent review into injustices experienced by members of occupational pension...

Moved by

Lord Palmer of Childs Hill

216: After Clause 117, insert the following new Clause—

“Independent review into injustices in occupational pension schemes

(1) The Secretary of State must, within three months of the day on which this Act is passed, commission an independent review into injustices experienced by members of occupational pension...

My Lords, this group concerns defined benefits, fairness and redress. Amendment 216 in my name asks for independent reviews into serious, alleged injustices affecting scheme members. It is broad and seeks an independent review into injustices in occupational pension schemes caused by actions or omissions of employers, sponsors or administrators,...

My Lords, this group concerns defined benefits, fairness and redress. Amendment 216 in my name asks for independent reviews into serious, alleged injustices affecting scheme members. It is broad and seeks an independent review into injustices in occupational pension schemes caused by actions or omissions of employers, sponsors or administrators,...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her customary comprehensive reply, but I do think the Government have to think outside the box. The idea that “It’s not me, guv” is not really good enough. Yes, it is long and complex, but an elegant redress could be affordable, and virtually...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her customary comprehensive reply, but I do think the Government have to think outside the box. The idea that “It’s not me, guv” is not really good enough. Yes, it is long and complex, but an elegant redress could be affordable, and virtually...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have contributed to this debate. As we know, this group addresses the use of scale, as measured by assets under management or monetary value, as a determinant of scheme quality.

The noble Lord, Lord Fuller, gave the example of the Orkney trust. I...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have contributed to this debate. As we know, this group addresses the use of scale, as measured by assets under management or monetary value, as a determinant of scheme quality.

The noble Lord, Lord Fuller, gave the example of the Orkney trust. I...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Altmann, on having a group of nine amendments all on her own.

We normally share groups rather than have them all on our own. This group considers how scale requirements interact with default pension arrangements where most savers remain invested. I have...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Altmann, on having a group of nine amendments all on her own.

We normally share groups rather than have them all on our own. This group considers how scale requirements interact with default pension arrangements where most savers remain invested. I have...

My Lords, I will come in at this moment because I wish to speak in favour of the amendment from the noble Lord, Lord Vaux, which I have co-signed, because he is unable to be with us today. These words are both mine and the noble Lord’s, more or less.

I...

My Lords, I will come in at this moment because I wish to speak in favour of the amendment from the noble Lord, Lord Vaux, which I have co-signed, because he is unable to be with us today. These words are both mine and the noble Lord’s, more or less.

I...

My Lords, I thank the Minister very much for all the things that are happening, but can she confirm whether this urgent review—the word “urgent” was used—will look specifically at low-paid and self-employed parents, who are often excluded from adequate support? I did not hear the Minister mention them at all.

My Lords, I thank the Minister very much for all the things that are happening, but can she confirm whether this urgent review—the word “urgent” was used—will look specifically at low-paid and self-employed parents, who are often excluded from adequate support? I did not hear the Minister mention them at all.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reassurance, and we will of course wait for the independent review. In the meantime, what steps are the Government taking to ensure that

carers are not unfairly penalised for minor or unintentional breaches of earnings rules? Will they consider writing off historical overpayments where department error is a significant factor?

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reassurance, and we will of course wait for the independent review. In the meantime, what steps are the Government taking to ensure that

carers are not unfairly penalised for minor or unintentional breaches of earnings rules? Will they consider writing off historical overpayments where department error is a significant factor?

My Lords, I thank the Government for listening to some of the points made by the noble Baroness, Lady Finn, myself and others. We are dealing here with Motions A, B and D, so let me deal with Motion A first. The Lords amendment aimed to give more powers to...

My Lords, I thank the Government for listening to some of the points made by the noble Baroness, Lady Finn, myself and others. We are dealing here with Motions A, B and D, so let me deal with Motion A first. The Lords amendment aimed to give more powers to...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her constructive approach. It has not always answered all the questions but it has gone a long way towards that. I put on record our thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Vaux, for his constructive initiatives on which some of these amendments are...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her constructive approach. It has not always answered all the questions but it has gone a long way towards that. I put on record our thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Vaux, for his constructive initiatives on which some of these amendments are...