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Equitable Life

I thank the right hon. Gentleman. Such behaviour by the Government towards the ombudsman has occurred at a time when she is vital. I cannot resist returning to the subject of the NHS. Its complaints system has been dramatically changed because the Government have removed the second stage, which was the automatic independent review by the Healthcare Commission, so there is now no promised independent review without going to the ombudsman. She is now the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, so the Government are broadening the trunk on which she must work. What extra resources will the ombudsman have, and how will the Government restore confidence in her power and effectiveness? I hope that my final point will not be too unpopular. Remembering the bitter comment about MPs feathering their own nests with their pensions, what are we, as MPs, going to do? Are we going to think of other people when we discuss our parliamentary pensions, and are we going to remember the people who are so much worse off than ourselves?