To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the burden of administration for the pensions industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the burden of administration for the pensions industry.

Statement on the reform of public service pensions.

Statement on the reform of public service pensions.

To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what the level of the Church of England's pension scheme deficit is; and what the capacity of the Church of England is to pay that deficit.

To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what the level of the Church of England's pension scheme deficit is; and what the capacity of the Church of England is to pay that deficit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what dates (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) senior officials in his Department have met representatives of (i) the British Bankers Association and (ii) the Association of British Insurers to discuss the charges or commission...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what dates (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) senior officials in his Department have met representatives of (i) the British Bankers Association and (ii) the Association of British Insurers to discuss the charges or commission...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to his recent speech on strike action over planned changes to public sector pensions, which individual trades union leaders he was referring to.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to his recent speech on strike action over planned changes to public sector pensions, which individual trades union leaders he was referring to.

Will the Chief Secretary specify the actuarial reductions involved in all four pension schemes? Have they changed? What will the consequences be for shift-working public sector employees, whose life expectancy does not generally match the national average, if they opt out of schemes?

Will the Chief Secretary specify the actuarial reductions involved in all four pension schemes? Have they changed? What will the consequences be for shift-working public sector employees, whose life expectancy does not generally match the national average, if they opt out of schemes?

Opposition Members never have any answers, so they chunter from the sidelines instead. At the same time, by offering transferred staff the right to remain members of the public service scheme, we are no longer requiring private, voluntary and social enterprise providers to take on the risks of defined benefit...

Opposition Members never have any answers, so they chunter from the sidelines instead. At the same time, by offering transferred staff the right to remain members of the public service scheme, we are no longer requiring private, voluntary and social enterprise providers to take on the risks of defined benefit...

The Chief Secretary said of the civil service scheme: ““It is disappointing that the PCS and Unite have not supported the heads of agreement and walked away from the talks””. Some might argue that they had been excluded. Be that as it may, he made a virtue of staying at...

The Chief Secretary said of the civil service scheme: ““It is disappointing that the PCS and Unite have not supported the heads of agreement and walked away from the talks””. Some might argue that they had been excluded. Be that as it may, he made a virtue of staying at...

Large increases in pension contributions combined with a continuing pay freeze will lead to a severe squeeze on living standards for nurses, teachers and other public service workers. What impact will that squeeze have on the wider economy, particularly in regions where there is a high proportion of public service...

Large increases in pension contributions combined with a continuing pay freeze will lead to a severe squeeze on living standards for nurses, teachers and other public service workers. What impact will that squeeze have on the wider economy, particularly in regions where there is a high proportion of public service...

I entirely agree. That is one of the abiding reasons why both the hon. Lady's party and mine have sought to reform public service pensions for many years. As a result of the inequities in the current system, the contributions of hard-pressed low-income workers subsidise the pensions of the wealthiest...

I entirely agree. That is one of the abiding reasons why both the hon. Lady's party and mine have sought to reform public service pensions for many years. As a result of the inequities in the current system, the contributions of hard-pressed low-income workers subsidise the pensions of the wealthiest...

There is a squeeze on living standards and, indeed, on our economy for a combination of reasons, including the crisis in the eurozone and the catastrophic mess that the hon. Lady's party made of the economy. I think she should start by admitting that.

There is a squeeze on living standards and, indeed, on our economy for a combination of reasons, including the crisis in the eurozone and the catastrophic mess that the hon. Lady's party made of the economy. I think she should start by admitting that.

The Chief Secretary will be aware of the demanding and dangerous job done by prison officers up and down this country. Will he clarify the state of negotiations with the Prison Officers Association on the normal pension age for prison officers in the context of the difficult and important job...

The Chief Secretary will be aware of the demanding and dangerous job done by prison officers up and down this country. Will he clarify the state of negotiations with the Prison Officers Association on the normal pension age for prison officers in the context of the difficult and important job...

Should not something be done about the destructive polarisation of the public and private sectors that this issue encourages?

Should not something be done about the destructive polarisation of the public and private sectors that this issue encourages?

I join the hon. Gentleman in expressing gratitude for the hard work that prison officers do for the country, and in recognising the physically demanding nature of some of that work. There is a specific outstanding issue in the arrangements relating to mechanisms allowing prison officers to retire before reaching...

I join the hon. Gentleman in expressing gratitude for the hard work that prison officers do for the country, and in recognising the physically demanding nature of some of that work. There is a specific outstanding issue in the arrangements relating to mechanisms allowing prison officers to retire before reaching...

Would not the negotiations have proceeded more quickly and smoothly had the Chief Secretary's party not colluded in the constant denigration of public sector workers, and the setting of one group against the other? The Chief Secretary is still doing that today in seeking to create a huge divide between...

Would not the negotiations have proceeded more quickly and smoothly had the Chief Secretary's party not colluded in the constant denigration of public sector workers, and the setting of one group against the other? The Chief Secretary is still doing that today in seeking to create a huge divide between...

I agree that, while we are securing very good pensions for public service workers, we must not neglect the fact that many millions of private sector workers have no pension provision at all. That is what the NEST scheme is intended to address. The opt-in arrangement for a new basic...

I agree that, while we are securing very good pensions for public service workers, we must not neglect the fact that many millions of private sector workers have no pension provision at all. That is what the NEST scheme is intended to address. The opt-in arrangement for a new basic...

Does my right hon. Friend agree that following these reforms, lower-paid nurses, teachers and civil servants will no longer subsidise the pensions of chief executives, permanent secretaries and the like?

Does my right hon. Friend agree that following these reforms, lower-paid nurses, teachers and civil servants will no longer subsidise the pensions of chief executives, permanent secretaries and the like?