I was very pleased to learn that the Government had accepted in principle at least that the basic state pension should be linked to the wages index, as I think we all were. It will be recalled that Lady Castle, with my support, repeatedly sought to persuade the Government of...

I was very pleased to learn that the Government had accepted in principle at least that the basic state pension should be linked to the wages index, as I think we all were. It will be recalled that Lady Castle, with my support, repeatedly sought to persuade the Government of...

moved Amendment No. 21: 21: Clause 5, page 7, line 1, leave out from ““means”” to end of line 8 and insert ““the tax year 2007–2008”” The noble Lord said: Amendment No. 21 is in my name and that of my noble friend Lord Kirkwood. I shall also speak to...

moved Amendment No. 21: 21: Clause 5, page 7, line 1, leave out from ““means”” to end of line 8 and insert ““the tax year 2007–2008”” The noble Lord said: Amendment No. 21 is in my name and that of my noble friend Lord Kirkwood. I shall also speak to...

I have an amendment in this group. Perhaps I may ask, like St Thomas Aquinas, ““When, dear Lord, when?””. That is exactly the point behind—

I have an amendment in this group. Perhaps I may ask, like St Thomas Aquinas, ““When, dear Lord, when?””. That is exactly the point behind—

I add my support to the amendment. I do not think that 15,000 women and 5,000 men is a big number to handle in the totality of the complex administration that we run at the moment, so any suggestion that there is a technical block to doing this is nonsense....

I add my support to the amendment. I do not think that 15,000 women and 5,000 men is a big number to handle in the totality of the complex administration that we run at the moment, so any suggestion that there is a technical block to doing this is nonsense....

It is a wonderful idea, but just how is it going to be achieved? Who will do the aggregation? Who will be responsible for paying? People in the situation which the noble Baroness described have the opportunity to pay voluntary,class 3 NICs, which may well be suitable for them,but even...

It is a wonderful idea, but just how is it going to be achieved? Who will do the aggregation? Who will be responsible for paying? People in the situation which the noble Baroness described have the opportunity to pay voluntary,class 3 NICs, which may well be suitable for them,but even...

I support the amendment. There is a problem. The Government have recognised that at least 15,000 women, on their calculations, will remain outside the contributory system because their hours of work are fragmented between different jobs. They might at one time run together several part-time jobs—in a newsagent, a pub...

I support the amendment. There is a problem. The Government have recognised that at least 15,000 women, on their calculations, will remain outside the contributory system because their hours of work are fragmented between different jobs. They might at one time run together several part-time jobs—in a newsagent, a pub...

I thank my noble friend for that sympathetic response. There was an acceptance of the view that people working on physically exhausting, sometimes dangerous, work should not be expected to continue to work to a late age without some relief or provision made for them. There is a general acceptance...

I thank my noble friend for that sympathetic response. There was an acceptance of the view that people working on physically exhausting, sometimes dangerous, work should not be expected to continue to work to a late age without some relief or provision made for them. There is a general acceptance...

moved Amendment No. 31: 31: After Clause 13, insert the following new Clause— ““Lower earnings limit Lower earnings limit (1) Section 5 of the SSCBA (earnings limits) is amended as follows. (2) After subsection (2) insert— ““(2A) A person’s gross earnings from all sources shall be aggregated when determining whether...

moved Amendment No. 31: 31: After Clause 13, insert the following new Clause— ““Lower earnings limit Lower earnings limit (1) Section 5 of the SSCBA (earnings limits) is amended as follows. (2) After subsection (2) insert— ““(2A) A person’s gross earnings from all sources shall be aggregated when determining whether...

I do not know, but I can check. This is an extremely serious matter, which we do not take lightly. It is vital that the Government offer a role model for employers. The debate that my noble friends Lady Turner and Lady Dean have precipitated draws attention to the wider...

I do not know, but I can check. This is an extremely serious matter, which we do not take lightly. It is vital that the Government offer a role model for employers. The debate that my noble friends Lady Turner and Lady Dean have precipitated draws attention to the wider...

I am sorry to intervene, but the point that I was trying to make was about government example. The latest figures appear to show that in April 2005, of the people employed in the Civil Service—in government departments and agencies—only 585 were aged 65 or over. That is about 0.1...

I am sorry to intervene, but the point that I was trying to make was about government example. The latest figures appear to show that in April 2005, of the people employed in the Civil Service—in government departments and agencies—only 585 were aged 65 or over. That is about 0.1...

I thank my noble friends Lady Turner and Lady Dean for precipitating the debate. They have set us a challenge. The issues that have come out during the passage of the Bill are extremely important Your Lordships’ House is hugely symbolic of the value of older people and the contribution...

I thank my noble friends Lady Turner and Lady Dean for precipitating the debate. They have set us a challenge. The issues that have come out during the passage of the Bill are extremely important Your Lordships’ House is hugely symbolic of the value of older people and the contribution...

I do not have the most up-to-date figures, but I assert that the Government intend to improve the number of older people in employment. The noble Lord asked about the department’s position on public appointments. The DWP has abolished its bar on those over 65 taking public appointments.

I do not have the most up-to-date figures, but I assert that the Government intend to improve the number of older people in employment. The noble Lord asked about the department’s position on public appointments. The DWP has abolished its bar on those over 65 taking public appointments.

Do not let that stop you.

Do not let that stop you.

It will not stop me, as the noble Baroness says. My noble friend is correct. One can relate Amendment No. 34 to the amendment proposed by the noble Baroness. For very much the same reasons that the noble Lord, Lord Oakeshott, has put forward, I do not support it because...

It will not stop me, as the noble Baroness says. My noble friend is correct. One can relate Amendment No. 34 to the amendment proposed by the noble Baroness. For very much the same reasons that the noble Lord, Lord Oakeshott, has put forward, I do not support it because...

I agree with much of what has been said by the noble Lord, Lord Fowler. For those who may not have studied his work, Professor Sir Michael Marmot has done a huge amount of work on the socio-economic determinants of health and longevity. It is the case that huge differences...

I agree with much of what has been said by the noble Lord, Lord Fowler. For those who may not have studied his work, Professor Sir Michael Marmot has done a huge amount of work on the socio-economic determinants of health and longevity. It is the case that huge differences...

I am sure we will return to this issue when we reach my amendment on annuities. Having said that, this amendment raises some interesting questions. As we have heard, those lucky enough to be born into the higher socio-economic groups or to have been to university enjoy measurable advantages, but...

I am sure we will return to this issue when we reach my amendment on annuities. Having said that, this amendment raises some interesting questions. As we have heard, those lucky enough to be born into the higher socio-economic groups or to have been to university enjoy measurable advantages, but...

I am deeply disappointed because I was going to compliment my noble friend Lord Skelmersdale on the wisdom of and his skill in putting down Amendment No. 34, and he tells me that he is not going to move it.

I am deeply disappointed because I was going to compliment my noble friend Lord Skelmersdale on the wisdom of and his skill in putting down Amendment No. 34, and he tells me that he is not going to move it.

I accept that point, but unless one is clear about the rules for residency that one is going to apply, how can one know what data one is going to collect? That is why one needs to understand the system that one is suggesting could be introduced. Until one does...

I accept that point, but unless one is clear about the rules for residency that one is going to apply, how can one know what data one is going to collect? That is why one needs to understand the system that one is suggesting could be introduced. Until one does...

The first half of the Minister’s speech was actually arguing against a different amendment from the one that I moved. It was as though I was suggesting that we establish a universal basic state pension. I happen to support that, but that is not what the amendment says. Indeed, I...

The first half of the Minister’s speech was actually arguing against a different amendment from the one that I moved. It was as though I was suggesting that we establish a universal basic state pension. I happen to support that, but that is not what the amendment says. Indeed, I...

moved AmendmentNo. 36: 36: Schedule 1, page 31, leave out lines 29 to 32 and insert— ““(a) in paragraph 5 (Category A or B retirement pension) for the figure in column (3) (increase for adult dependant) substitute ““—””; (b) in paragraph 6 (Category C retirement pension) for the figure in...

moved AmendmentNo. 36: 36: Schedule 1, page 31, leave out lines 29 to 32 and insert— ““(a) in paragraph 5 (Category A or B retirement pension) for the figure in column (3) (increase for adult dependant) substitute ““—””; (b) in paragraph 6 (Category C retirement pension) for the figure in...