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Pensions Bill

I am afraid that the hon. Lady clearly does not understand the pensions system. Issues involving defined-contribution pensions have nothing whatever to do with the collapse of direct-benefit occupational pension schemes. In the wake of what has happened, I urge the Secretary of State to ensure that payments to the pensioners who lost out begins as soon as possible. He and I have talked about the practical difficulties in relation to the way in which the financial assistance scheme is being run. I think that we should give the claimants the benefit of the doubt, and start paying them as quickly as possible. I assure the Secretary of State that he will have our support if he can find a way of ensuring that that is done.