---

Equitable Life

Again, on the time scale, does my right hon. Friend accept that because this prolonged and fundamental regulatory failure occurred more than eight years ago—and a significant number of the people who suffered losses have died—it is vital that we proceed with extreme urgency? The ombudsman recommended that a compensation payment scheme be set up within six months, but does she accept that what matters is how quickly people receive those payments? Can she give them some encouragement that the measure will proceed at some speed?