To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hanham on 25 October (WA 231) concerning the closure of Government Office North East, whether any estimates of the costs of closure, or any decisions as to which functions would be continued and by whom, were made prior...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hanham on 25 October (WA 231) concerning the closure of Government Office North East, whether any estimates of the costs of closure, or any decisions as to which functions would be continued and by whom, were made prior...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, is selling himself short. He did at least as good a forensic job as the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, would have done in his place and he should not be modest about it. We broadly support these orders. We support the principle of...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, is selling himself short. He did at least as good a forensic job as the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, would have done in his place and he should not be modest about it. We broadly support these orders. We support the principle of...

That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority Winding Up Order 2010. Relevant documents: 5th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and 9th Report from the Merits Committee.

That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority Winding Up Order 2010. Relevant documents: 5th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and 9th Report from the Merits Committee.

Is that the end of the Minister’s answer? I raised a serious question about the appointment of Mark Fawcett, but the Minister does not seem to be aware that he was appointed. He appeared to say that that is for PADA and that he would deal with it later, but...

Is that the end of the Minister’s answer? I raised a serious question about the appointment of Mark Fawcett, but the Minister does not seem to be aware that he was appointed. He appeared to say that that is for PADA and that he would deal with it later, but...

My Lords, the Committee will now consider the draft Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations 2010, laid on 27 January, the draft National Employment Savings Trust Order 2010, and the draft Personal Accounts Delivery Authority Winding Up Order 2010, which were both laid on 12 January. I am...

My Lords, the Committee will now consider the draft Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations 2010, laid on 27 January, the draft National Employment Savings Trust Order 2010, and the draft Personal Accounts Delivery Authority Winding Up Order 2010, which were both laid on 12 January. I am...

The noble Lord is tempting me. At Question Time he already gave me a good opportunity, for which I thank him. I shall be happy to drop a line to both noble Lords on a matter of fact. The noble Lord, Lord Taylor, asked who actually determines the rules. It...

The noble Lord is tempting me. At Question Time he already gave me a good opportunity, for which I thank him. I shall be happy to drop a line to both noble Lords on a matter of fact. The noble Lord, Lord Taylor, asked who actually determines the rules. It...

That was helpful. Will he write urgently to me and the noble Lord, because we may need to invite the Conservatives to go back to go back to the drawing board on this matter?

That was helpful. Will he write urgently to me and the noble Lord, because we may need to invite the Conservatives to go back to go back to the drawing board on this matter?

While we are on that point, I think that I heard the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, make an important announcement that the Conservatives sought to bring in auto-enrolment for all private pension schemes, not just PADA. In that case, irrespective of the date, can the Minister say whether that would...

While we are on that point, I think that I heard the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, make an important announcement that the Conservatives sought to bring in auto-enrolment for all private pension schemes, not just PADA. In that case, irrespective of the date, can the Minister say whether that would...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his thorough presentation of the three statutory instruments, two orders and important set of related regulations, and for his explanation of the background. They are derivative of the Pensions Act 2008, which the Minister steered through this House, and enable the implementation of...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his thorough presentation of the three statutory instruments, two orders and important set of related regulations, and for his explanation of the background. They are derivative of the Pensions Act 2008, which the Minister steered through this House, and enable the implementation of...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lords, Lord Taylor and Lord Oakeshott, for their contributions. I took from each that they were supportive of the broad thrust of what we are trying to achieve, but they enunciated particular concerns, which I shall try to allay. I agree with the noble...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lords, Lord Taylor and Lord Oakeshott, for their contributions. I took from each that they were supportive of the broad thrust of what we are trying to achieve, but they enunciated particular concerns, which I shall try to allay. I agree with the noble...

I apologise to the noble Lord: I did not pick up his point correctly. It was always envisaged in the Act that there would be a phasing-in that would interrelate with the staging arrangements. That is partly to help individuals who have not saved in pensions schemes before to adjust...

I apologise to the noble Lord: I did not pick up his point correctly. It was always envisaged in the Act that there would be a phasing-in that would interrelate with the staging arrangements. That is partly to help individuals who have not saved in pensions schemes before to adjust...

I was part way through responding to the contributions from other noble Lords, so I shall continue. Perhaps I may turn next to the inquiry from the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, asking what Article 14 is about. It is important that employers have access to information about NEST so that...

I was part way through responding to the contributions from other noble Lords, so I shall continue. Perhaps I may turn next to the inquiry from the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, asking what Article 14 is about. It is important that employers have access to information about NEST so that...

Again, I am speaking from memory, but I believe that that question was considered in the analysis at the time. It did not conclude that we could assume that women aged over 50 were in large measure likely to lose out from the arrangements. I know that we had that...

Again, I am speaking from memory, but I believe that that question was considered in the analysis at the time. It did not conclude that we could assume that women aged over 50 were in large measure likely to lose out from the arrangements. I know that we had that...

Under European legislation there is a practical problem with existing schemes. I am receiving reassurance from the Box on that. I know that from time to time that issue has been the subject of intense discussion, but I am advised that the position is that it is outwith European requirements.

Under European legislation there is a practical problem with existing schemes. I am receiving reassurance from the Box on that. I know that from time to time that issue has been the subject of intense discussion, but I am advised that the position is that it is outwith European requirements.

My Lords, this was a public appointment and the noble Lord might be most helped if I write to him setting out the background of the process. On the issue of assurances about the investment profile of NEST, this is a matter for the trust corporation and its members. It...

My Lords, this was a public appointment and the noble Lord might be most helped if I write to him setting out the background of the process. On the issue of assurances about the investment profile of NEST, this is a matter for the trust corporation and its members. It...

My Lords, I do not think that that is right. I am sure that the noble Lord will draw to the attention of PADA and NEST the detailed debates we have had about the investment policy and what the principle should be; I remember them well. I hope they are...

My Lords, I do not think that that is right. I am sure that the noble Lord will draw to the attention of PADA and NEST the detailed debates we have had about the investment policy and what the principle should be; I remember them well. I hope they are...

I am grateful to the noble Lord. I am sorry if I did not make it clear what my reservation was. I appreciate that there is an enormous logistical problem with the system, and do not disagree with the timing. However, it is quite wrong and even dangerous to have...

I am grateful to the noble Lord. I am sorry if I did not make it clear what my reservation was. I appreciate that there is an enormous logistical problem with the system, and do not disagree with the timing. However, it is quite wrong and even dangerous to have...

My Lords, I am happy to take the matter away but the noble Lord should not deduce from anything I have said that the way forward is likely to be other than on the basis we discussed in Parliament. The debate on social and responsible investment did a couple of...

My Lords, I am happy to take the matter away but the noble Lord should not deduce from anything I have said that the way forward is likely to be other than on the basis we discussed in Parliament. The debate on social and responsible investment did a couple of...