Draft SI on Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Debated with draft SI on Social Security Benefits Up-rating. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

Draft SI on Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Debated with draft SI on Social Security Benefits Up-rating. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

What are the Minister’s views on council tax increases and their impact on the cost of living for pensioners? One is already reading of people threatening not to pay. That council taxes are rising faster than pensions is undoubtedly a sore point. I am in the company of people who...

What are the Minister’s views on council tax increases and their impact on the cost of living for pensioners? One is already reading of people threatening not to pay. That council taxes are rising faster than pensions is undoubtedly a sore point. I am in the company of people who...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2007. 7th Report from the Statutory Instruments Committee. The noble Lord said: I will speak also to the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2007. I am satisfied that...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2007. 7th Report from the Statutory Instruments Committee. The noble Lord said: I will speak also to the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2007. I am satisfied that...

I thank each noble Lord who has contributed to what has been a short but passionate debate about an order that could be seen as quite turgid. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, for having given me advance notice of the fact that he would not be...

I thank each noble Lord who has contributed to what has been a short but passionate debate about an order that could be seen as quite turgid. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, for having given me advance notice of the fact that he would not be...

That is indeed quite a long time. There would obviously be an issue of balance in the impact on work incentives if they were uprated, if they are not in-work benefits. That must be addressed. On why the benefits system is so complex and what has happened with simplification, the...

That is indeed quite a long time. There would obviously be an issue of balance in the impact on work incentives if they were uprated, if they are not in-work benefits. That must be addressed. On why the benefits system is so complex and what has happened with simplification, the...

There was a small question about why we do not uprate the 25p age addition for the over-80s. Perhaps that emphasises a bit some of the complexity in the system. I am advised that no Government have increased it since it was introduced in 1971, but this Government have obviously...

There was a small question about why we do not uprate the 25p age addition for the over-80s. Perhaps that emphasises a bit some of the complexity in the system. I am advised that no Government have increased it since it was introduced in 1971, but this Government have obviously...

The issue of where we start from is hypothetical because we have to start from where we are, but it is probably right that if we sat down with a blank sheet of paper and designed a system it would not end up as the system is at the moment....

The issue of where we start from is hypothetical because we have to start from where we are, but it is probably right that if we sat down with a blank sheet of paper and designed a system it would not end up as the system is at the moment....

I cannot resist responding to the comments of the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, about RPI and so on. There is clearly a fairly automated process, because Parliament thought it the most appropriate balance between incentives into work and the rest. I am sure that the noble Lord is right that...

I cannot resist responding to the comments of the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, about RPI and so on. There is clearly a fairly automated process, because Parliament thought it the most appropriate balance between incentives into work and the rest. I am sure that the noble Lord is right that...

In conclusion, our Pathways to Work initiative now covers 40 per cent of the country and we will roll it out nationwide by April 2008, in time for the new employment and support allowance. Our Welfare Reform Bill will build upon that success. It will deliver on our commitment to...

In conclusion, our Pathways to Work initiative now covers 40 per cent of the country and we will roll it out nationwide by April 2008, in time for the new employment and support allowance. Our Welfare Reform Bill will build upon that success. It will deliver on our commitment to...

I am very pleased to follow the noble Lord. I concur with much of what he has said. The orders, particularly the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2007, are standing features of the annual parliamentary calendar. The good news for the Grand Committee is that we can ask the same...

I am very pleased to follow the noble Lord. I concur with much of what he has said. The orders, particularly the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2007, are standing features of the annual parliamentary calendar. The good news for the Grand Committee is that we can ask the same...

Split the difference.

Split the difference.

I am again grateful to the Government for introducing these orders and I note the change of voice and tone in that introduction. I should apologise to the Committee. If we go on—I suspect that we will—beyond 6.05 pm, I am afraid that I have an unavoidable commitment which I...

I am again grateful to the Government for introducing these orders and I note the change of voice and tone in that introduction. I should apologise to the Committee. If we go on—I suspect that we will—beyond 6.05 pm, I am afraid that I have an unavoidable commitment which I...

If my hon. Friend had been in the Chamber throughout my speech he would have heard an analysis bordering on the tedious of the number of items that are included and the way in which the Office for National Statistics obtains that information not just from 150 shop locations but...

If my hon. Friend had been in the Chamber throughout my speech he would have heard an analysis bordering on the tedious of the number of items that are included and the way in which the Office for National Statistics obtains that information not just from 150 shop locations but...

The hon. Gentleman accepts the point that I made—at least earnings will be used in those situations—and he knows full well that the link to earnings means that the pension will go up much faster than inflation and be worth about twice what it would otherwise be worth by 2050....

The hon. Gentleman accepts the point that I made—at least earnings will be used in those situations—and he knows full well that the link to earnings means that the pension will go up much faster than inflation and be worth about twice what it would otherwise be worth by 2050....

I am very happy to give way to the Minister.

I am very happy to give way to the Minister.

Would the hon. Gentleman describe the fact that 39 per cent. of pensioners lived in relative poverty as part of those golden years?

Would the hon. Gentleman describe the fact that 39 per cent. of pensioners lived in relative poverty as part of those golden years?

I would not wish to characterise any Administration—not even the hon. Gentleman’s—by picking out one statistic. I merely point out that, happily for all parts of this House, poverty in 2007 is perhaps considered a more important issue for debate than it has ever been, and certainly in my recent...

I would not wish to characterise any Administration—not even the hon. Gentleman’s—by picking out one statistic. I merely point out that, happily for all parts of this House, poverty in 2007 is perhaps considered a more important issue for debate than it has ever been, and certainly in my recent...

The hon. Gentleman has referred to complexity and bureaucracy several times, particularly in relation to pensioner benefits. Does he assume that his commission looking into this issue will end means-testing for pensions and the pension credit, or will the Conservative party stay wedded to them?

The hon. Gentleman has referred to complexity and bureaucracy several times, particularly in relation to pensioner benefits. Does he assume that his commission looking into this issue will end means-testing for pensions and the pension credit, or will the Conservative party stay wedded to them?

I thank my hon. Friend. His power to anticipate what I am going to say is legendary. He will be happy to know that I am about to turn to council tax benefit, but it may be useful for the record to reconfirm the respect that I had for him...

I thank my hon. Friend. His power to anticipate what I am going to say is legendary. He will be happy to know that I am about to turn to council tax benefit, but it may be useful for the record to reconfirm the respect that I had for him...

My hon. Friend might like to know that at a recent lunch at the Age Concern office in my constituency, I asked the 20 to 30 elderly people there whether they were taking up their full benefits, and not one of them said that they were. When I asked why,...

My hon. Friend might like to know that at a recent lunch at the Age Concern office in my constituency, I asked the 20 to 30 elderly people there whether they were taking up their full benefits, and not one of them said that they were. When I asked why,...