Parliamentary Search

Proceeding contribution from George Osborne (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 29 November 2011. It occurred during Ministerial statement on Autumn Statement.

Autumn Statement

We are basing our pension reforms on the report from Lord Hutton. He particularly focused on the benefit, but he said that there was a case for the increase in contributions. He also said recently that it was frankly difficult to imagine a better deal. That was the former Labour Pensions Secretary. What I do not understand is what exactly the policy of the Labour party is on this. They are absolutely silent. Are you in favour of increased contributions? [Interruption.] If you are not in favour of the increased contributions, where in your so-called five-point plan are you spending the money to stop those contribution increases? It is completely economically illiterate—[Interruption.] The hon. Member for Dudley North (Ian Austin) talks about negotiations. Why do he and his party not condemn the strike, urge the unions to sit round the table and negotiate with us to get a deal, especially as the former Labour Pensions Secretary, John Hutton—a man I know the hon. Gentleman really admires—says that it would be difficult to get a better deal?

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
536 c830 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Business Development aid Borrowing Health and safety Energy Infrastructure Excise duties Fuels Government assistance Economic situation Forecasts National income Pre-school education Pay Workplace pensions Planning Public sector Public expenditure Mortgages Railways Loans Public finance Public sector debt Social security benefits State retirement pensions Schools Young people Transport Taxation Unemployment Science Economic recession Autumn statement Office for Budget Responsibility Bank levy
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk