---

Pensions Bill

This seems a very sensible and reasonable amendment. Almost by definition, non-executives are in office for only a few years. It would be quite messy, from the point of view of personal accounts, to include them. If we think of high-profile boards non-executives have recently been on—for example, Northern Rock—we realise that the last thing we would want would be that they should accrue pension rights. Indeed, it would not be normal practice. This seem, therefore, to be a perfectly sensible amendment and I do not see why personal accounts should make a major change in established practice. As the noble Baroness said, non-executive directors are not part of the target market.