My Lords, Amendment 85 is in my name. I will be extremely brief. I had originally written down that I agreed with some of what the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, had to say. Having listened to her, I am not sure that that fully explains my position; I found myself...

My Lords, Amendment 85 is in my name. I will be extremely brief. I had originally written down that I agreed with some of what the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, had to say. Having listened to her, I am not sure that that fully explains my position; I found myself...

I am sorry to interrupt the noble Lord. He has gone on for a long time about consensus. I agree with him on that. Will he therefore explain why he did not support the very good 2016-17 report of the noble Lord, Lord Burns, which would have reduced numbers on...

I am sorry to interrupt the noble Lord. He has gone on for a long time about consensus. I agree with him on that. Will he therefore explain why he did not support the very good 2016-17 report of the noble Lord, Lord Burns, which would have reduced numbers on...

My Lords, I will concentrate on two proposals in the Labour manifesto and the King’s Speech: the membership of the Lords and the proposed retirement on age grounds of Members.

Since the passing of the original 1999 Act, there has been no progress whatever in reducing the size of this House,...

My Lords, I will concentrate on two proposals in the Labour manifesto and the King’s Speech: the membership of the Lords and the proposed retirement on age grounds of Members.

Since the passing of the original 1999 Act, there has been no progress whatever in reducing the size of this House,...

Yes—we have known each other too long for me to be really rude to the noble Lord.

I hope that there may be an opportunity for those hereditary Peers who have given service to be appointed life Peers. It is not a question of personalities; it is a question of whether...

Yes—we have known each other too long for me to be really rude to the noble Lord.

I hope that there may be an opportunity for those hereditary Peers who have given service to be appointed life Peers. It is not a question of personalities; it is a question of whether...

My Lords, I congratulate my noble friend on his speech. We have spent most of our time in the other place and here debating against each other, but it is extremely good that on this, and I suspect many other issues, we are very much on the same side. He...

My Lords, I congratulate my noble friend on his speech. We have spent most of our time in the other place and here debating against each other, but it is extremely good that on this, and I suspect many other issues, we are very much on the same side. He...

It is marvellous that when one tries to reach agreement the noble Lord immediately looks for disagreement. There is no disagreement with him on that point; there is no disagreement from my noble friend and none from me. We want automatic enrolment. I said that about five times but the...

It is marvellous that when one tries to reach agreement the noble Lord immediately looks for disagreement. There is no disagreement with him on that point; there is no disagreement from my noble friend and none from me. We want automatic enrolment. I said that about five times but the...

It is rather usual with us. I have one or two brief comments. I cannot see how a civil partnership is a threat to marriage. It respects the strong wishes and feelings of many of our citizens who happen to be gay or lesbian. That seems to be the point....

It is rather usual with us. I have one or two brief comments. I cannot see how a civil partnership is a threat to marriage. It respects the strong wishes and feelings of many of our citizens who happen to be gay or lesbian. That seems to be the point....

My Lords, if one former chairman of the Conservative Party may disagree with another—

My Lords, if one former chairman of the Conservative Party may disagree with another—

moved Amendment No. 77A: 77A: Before Clause 123, insert the following new Clause— ““Amendment of pensions annuities rule Any statutory provision or rule of law requiring a pension to be taken in the form of an annuity by the age of 75 is amended so that the age limit is...

moved Amendment No. 77A: 77A: Before Clause 123, insert the following new Clause— ““Amendment of pensions annuities rule Any statutory provision or rule of law requiring a pension to be taken in the form of an annuity by the age of 75 is amended so that the age limit is...

My Lords, my Amendment No. 77A is grouped with Amendment No. 77. I shall not add much to what I have said. I have already made two speeches on annuities this afternoon, and I think that by now everyone has a clear idea of where I stand on them. I...

My Lords, my Amendment No. 77A is grouped with Amendment No. 77. I shall not add much to what I have said. I have already made two speeches on annuities this afternoon, and I think that by now everyone has a clear idea of where I stand on them. I...

My Lords, the Minister can say that again. He said ““not as robust and fast””, but this is snail-like progress. It certainly does not in any way fulfil the implied promise in the comments of Ministers up until now. I noticed the careful phrases that the Minister used when he...

My Lords, the Minister can say that again. He said ““not as robust and fast””, but this is snail-like progress. It certainly does not in any way fulfil the implied promise in the comments of Ministers up until now. I noticed the careful phrases that the Minister used when he...

moved Amendment No. 75: 75: Before Clause 123, insert the following new Clause— ““Parliamentary pension scheme member-nominated trustees (1) After section 241 of the Pensions Act 2004 (c. 35) (requirement for member-nominated trustees) insert— ““241A Parliamentary pension scheme: member-nominated trustees (1) This section applies to a scheme which is set...

moved Amendment No. 75: 75: Before Clause 123, insert the following new Clause— ““Parliamentary pension scheme member-nominated trustees (1) After section 241 of the Pensions Act 2004 (c. 35) (requirement for member-nominated trustees) insert— ““241A Parliamentary pension scheme: member-nominated trustees (1) This section applies to a scheme which is set...

moved Amendment No. 69A: 69A: After Clause 98, insert the following new Clause— ““Suspension of annuitisation order (1) The Secretary of State may by order suspend any statutory provision or rule of law requiring a pension to be taken in the form of an annuity. (2) The Secretary of State...

moved Amendment No. 69A: 69A: After Clause 98, insert the following new Clause— ““Suspension of annuitisation order (1) The Secretary of State may by order suspend any statutory provision or rule of law requiring a pension to be taken in the form of an annuity. (2) The Secretary of State...

My Lords, frankly, that was a deeply disappointing reply from the Government. The Minister talked about uncertainty. The uncertainty is caused by the worst financial position that we have had in this country in living memory; that is the uncertainty that would-be pensioners are living with. It is significant that...

My Lords, frankly, that was a deeply disappointing reply from the Government. The Minister talked about uncertainty. The uncertainty is caused by the worst financial position that we have had in this country in living memory; that is the uncertainty that would-be pensioners are living with. It is significant that...

My Lords, I am not saying that. The Government will not accept either. I hate to teach the noble Lord his business, but the point is that we could have defeated the Government this afternoon, but we cannot defeat them now. I guarantee to the noble Lord that we will...

My Lords, I am not saying that. The Government will not accept either. I hate to teach the noble Lord his business, but the point is that we could have defeated the Government this afternoon, but we cannot defeat them now. I guarantee to the noble Lord that we will...

I certainly thank the Minister for giving such a full reply; certainly, I would welcome anything that can be done in this area, and I am sure that the noble Baroness, Lady Gould, would say precisely the same. The trouble with his argument is that there is a definition of...

I certainly thank the Minister for giving such a full reply; certainly, I would welcome anything that can be done in this area, and I am sure that the noble Baroness, Lady Gould, would say precisely the same. The trouble with his argument is that there is a definition of...

moved Amendment No. 103: 103: After Clause 41, insert the following new Clause— ““Meaning of ““disability”” in sentences for aggravation related to disability In section 146 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44) (increase in sentences for aggravation related to disability or sexual orientation) for subsection (5) substitute— ““(5)...

moved Amendment No. 103: 103: After Clause 41, insert the following new Clause— ““Meaning of ““disability”” in sentences for aggravation related to disability In section 146 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44) (increase in sentences for aggravation related to disability or sexual orientation) for subsection (5) substitute— ““(5)...

My Lords, I was going to congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Warner, on a speech free from the shackles of government, but as, judging from his last remarks, he seems a bit reluctant to leave those shackles, I shall modify my congratulations. The noble Lord was a senior civil servant...

My Lords, I was going to congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Warner, on a speech free from the shackles of government, but as, judging from his last remarks, he seems a bit reluctant to leave those shackles, I shall modify my congratulations. The noble Lord was a senior civil servant...

moved Amendment No. 1: 1: Insert the following new clause- ““Post-legislative scrutiny Four years after the passing of this Act the Secretary of State shall arrange for post-legislative scrutiny of this Act to check on its operation and may arrange subsequent scrutiny.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, I will...

moved Amendment No. 1: 1: Insert the following new clause- ““Post-legislative scrutiny Four years after the passing of this Act the Secretary of State shall arrange for post-legislative scrutiny of this Act to check on its operation and may arrange subsequent scrutiny.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, I will...

My Lords, I beg both noble Lords’ pardon. I have never had so much trouble in trying to persuade the Government to act in their own interests and to prevent the kind of expensive errors that can cost the taxpayer dear and harm the public. I think that I am...

My Lords, I beg both noble Lords’ pardon. I have never had so much trouble in trying to persuade the Government to act in their own interests and to prevent the kind of expensive errors that can cost the taxpayer dear and harm the public. I think that I am...