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Postal Services Bill [HL]

I rise to support my noble friend’s amendment because, as he points out, the powers that are given to the Secretary of State are quite unconstrained, and I do not think that that is acceptable in the present circumstances. Even if my noble friend does not like the exact wording of the amendment, I hope that he will consider that something has to be done to amend this part of the Bill. It is not acceptable to have a situation where the power to amend the RMPP is entirely without constraint. Apparently its purpose is to permit him to amend the scheme so that the service performed after the transfer is treated as one. Whether that is the reason, I do not know, but simply to have a provision conferring a totally unconstrained power to amend the RMPP is not acceptable. I also support what my noble friend said about the right and the necessity to consult. Particularly as far as pension provision is concerned, you simply cannot have a situation where the scheme can be amended without any constraint at all.