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Pensions Bill

I will be very brief, as there is not much time left. As a former trustee of the British Steel pension scheme, I think it important that we pay tribute to the union trustees who work extremely hard on protecting schemes. We should consult trustees more on how we can help to protect schemes; they should be fully involved. Having worked within Allied Steel and Wire for the Community union, formerly the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, I think that occupational pension schemes are a great asset, but they need to be boosted and looked after. In a borough such as mine, with an average wage of £14,000 a year and house prices averaging £100,000, how we encourage people to save through pensions will be very problematic. We need to start educating people now: we must talk to young people about how important pensions are and how they can be a protection for the future. I wish us luck in that battle ahead, and when the Bill comes back I hope that some of the time scales as regards the state pension age and changes to the state pension can be improved. I am sure that that campaign will continue. Question put and agreed to. Bill accordingly read the Third time, and passed.