---

Pensions Bill

I am always extremely suspicious of Governments who put such a new clause into Bills when we have not had much of a chance in this House to discuss the subject line by line, for which we are well known and very often credited. On this occasion, however, I fully understand why it has been necessary to table a new clause on the effect of a freezing order. The new clause, however, which I have read very carefully several times, applies only to freezing orders and what happens during that period. Although the relevant provision in paragraph (b) refers to ““an assessment period””, it is not terribly helpful. Before the next stage of the Bill, will the Minister perhaps think about expanding this as it does not appear to me to be particularly clear, despite what he said just now? As I said, I have no complaint as such to the introduction of this new clause, but I do rather wonder about the reason for the assessment period.