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Proceeding contribution from Lord Hain (Labour) in the House of Commons on Monday, 7 January 2008. It occurred during Debate on bill on Pensions Bill.


Pensions Bill

Of course it is important that we get it right, but I want to know whether or not the hon. Gentleman will support the Bill. If he has lit upon what has been described by the CBI as a finer detail of the Bill, he can move amendments in Committee, and they will be considered by Ministers. But is he saying that if he does not get 100 per cent. of whatever he is proposing—no one has the faintest idea what he is proposing, and I am not sure that he does—he will sabotage the consensus on the Bill? In the Financial Times on 6 November, the chief executive of the National Association of Pension Funds, Joanne Segars, said:"““Personal accounts provide an opportunity for millions of people who will benefit from them to save for retirement for the first time. It would be a pity to see that damaged by people unnecessarily breaking the consensus.””" In the Financial Times on 7 November, the CBI deputy director general, John Cridland, said that it is important that pension reform should not be derailed because of"““a difference of opinion over the finer details of the bill.””" I could go on. I could quote the hon. Gentleman's predecessor, who adopted a far more constructive attitude, but I shall spare him the embarrassment.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
470 c65-6 
Session
2007-08
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Costs Advisory services Women Pension credit Personal income Workplace pensions Poverty Pensions Personal pensions Means-tested benefits Pension funds State retirement pensions Small businesses Reform National employment savings trust scheme
Legislation
Pensions Bill 2007-08
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk