My Lords, I add my congratulations to the noble Lord, Lord Hobby, and my noble friend Lord Blackwater, on their maiden speeches. It is great to have both noble Lords in the House, with their differing views; I am sure that they will add much value between them.

It will not...

My Lords, I add my congratulations to the noble Lord, Lord Hobby, and my noble friend Lord Blackwater, on their maiden speeches. It is great to have both noble Lords in the House, with their differing views; I am sure that they will add much value between them.

It will not...

Moved by

Baroness Stedman-Scott

148: Clause 42, page 41, leave out lines 35 to 39

Member’s explanatory statement

This probing amendment seeks to understand why the provision is limited solely to current employees of a constituent council of a combined authority, and does not extend to other employers participating in the LGPS. It aims...

Moved by

Baroness Stedman-Scott

148: Clause 42, page 41, leave out lines 35 to 39

Member’s explanatory statement

This probing amendment seeks to understand why the provision is limited solely to current employees of a constituent council of a combined authority, and does not extend to other employers participating in the LGPS. It aims...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to open this debate on behalf of my noble friend Lady Scott of Bybrook.

Noble Lords from across the Grand Committee and indeed the House will be aware that the pensions Bill is currently in Committee and that the first two days of scrutiny were...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to open this debate on behalf of my noble friend Lady Scott of Bybrook.

Noble Lords from across the Grand Committee and indeed the House will be aware that the pensions Bill is currently in Committee and that the first two days of scrutiny were...

My Lords, the Government have now confirmed a substantial programme of reform of the Local Government Pension Scheme through this Bill and the wider pensions Bill.

Taken together, these measures represent a significant moment in the evolution of LGPS asset pooling and governance.

7.30 pm

Although the overall direction signalled in the...

My Lords, the Government have now confirmed a substantial programme of reform of the Local Government Pension Scheme through this Bill and the wider pensions Bill.

Taken together, these measures represent a significant moment in the evolution of LGPS asset pooling and governance.

7.30 pm

Although the overall direction signalled in the...

Lords committee stage fifth day. Clause 33 agreed to. Schedules 13 and 14 agreed to. Clause 34 agreed to. Schedule 15 agreed to. Clause 35 agreed to. Schedule 16 agreed to. Clause 36 agreed to. Schedule 17 agreed to. Clause 37 agreed to. Schedule 18 agreed to. Clause 38 agreed to. Schedule 19 agreed to. Clause 39 agreed to. Schedule 20 agreed to. Clauses 40 and 41 agreed to. Clause 42, as amended, agreed to. Clause 43 agreed to. Schedule 21 agreed to. Clause 44 under consideration.

Lords committee stage fifth day. Clause 33 agreed to. Schedules 13 and 14 agreed to. Clause 34 agreed to. Schedule 15 agreed to. Clause 35 agreed to. Schedule 16 agreed to. Clause 36 agreed to. Schedule 17 agreed to. Clause 37 agreed to. Schedule 18 agreed to. Clause 38 agreed...

My Lords, to be frank, I am not entirely sure where to begin. There is much to consider and even more to be concerned about. This Budget, at its core—in a deliberate political choice—is about welfare over work. We are asked to believe that this Budget strengthens the economy and...

My Lords, to be frank, I am not entirely sure where to begin. There is much to consider and even more to be concerned about. This Budget, at its core—in a deliberate political choice—is about welfare over work. We are asked to believe that this Budget strengthens the economy and...

My Lords, the forthcoming Budget due on 26 November is perhaps the most anticipated that I can remember. We have had a summer of speculation, an autumn of uncertainty, and now, as winter approaches, we know what is coming—tax rises—and we know this is not an inevitability; it is a...

My Lords, the forthcoming Budget due on 26 November is perhaps the most anticipated that I can remember. We have had a summer of speculation, an autumn of uncertainty, and now, as winter approaches, we know what is coming—tax rises—and we know this is not an inevitability; it is a...

My Lords, this is the first opportunity I have had to congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Sherlock, on her appointment as a Minister. I genuinely wish her well in that capacity and look forward to working with her on areas where we can.

The Government’s decision to end the winter fuel...

My Lords, this is the first opportunity I have had to congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Sherlock, on her appointment as a Minister. I genuinely wish her well in that capacity and look forward to working with her on areas where we can.

The Government’s decision to end the winter fuel...

My Right Honourable Friend, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mel Stride MP) has made the following Written Statement.

The Social Security Administration Act 1992 places an annual statutory duty on the Secretary of State to review the rates of State Pensions and benefits after consideration of trends in...

My Right Honourable Friend, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mel Stride MP) has made the following Written Statement.

The Social Security Administration Act 1992 places an annual statutory duty on the Secretary of State to review the rates of State Pensions and benefits after consideration of trends in...

To ask His Majesty's Government, due to the recent increases in energy costs, what plans they have to provide additional financial support to people who need to use medical equipment in their homes.

To ask His Majesty's Government, due to the recent increases in energy costs, what plans they have to provide additional financial support to people who need to use medical equipment in their homes.

My Right Honourable Friend, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Dr Thérèse Coffey MP) has made the following Written Statement.

The economy is in recovery, with a record number of people on the payroll, but we recognise inflationary challenges and that people are concerned about pressures on household budgets....

My Right Honourable Friend, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Dr Thérèse Coffey MP) has made the following Written Statement.

The economy is in recovery, with a record number of people on the payroll, but we recognise inflationary challenges and that people are concerned about pressures on household budgets....

My Lords, I am required to confirm that the draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2022 and the draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2022 are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and I am happy so to do.

The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order increases state pensions and...

My Lords, I am required to confirm that the draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2022 and the draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2022 are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and I am happy so to do.

The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order increases state pensions and...

My Lords, I start with an apology. In my opening comments, I said the Government propose to spend an extra £6.6 million in the uprating order; it is actually £6.6 billion. Forgive me.

I thank all noble Lords who took part in today’s debate. I am not a bit surprised by...

My Lords, I start with an apology. In my opening comments, I said the Government propose to spend an extra £6.6 million in the uprating order; it is actually £6.6 billion. Forgive me.

I thank all noble Lords who took part in today’s debate. I am not a bit surprised by...

I think that the noble Baroness appreciates that the UC system is more modern and able to do things, but her point about the £20 uplift is already on my list to take back to the department. I will write to the noble Baroness and place a copy of the...

I think that the noble Baroness appreciates that the UC system is more modern and able to do things, but her point about the £20 uplift is already on my list to take back to the department. I will write to the noble Baroness and place a copy of the...

I shall certainly write about the points raised by the noble Lord in relation to the uprating order, but I shall also try to do a little better and write to DLUHC and ask it to answer those points, if that is all right with him.

The noble Lord, Lord Jones,...

I shall certainly write about the points raised by the noble Lord in relation to the uprating order, but I shall also try to do a little better and write to DLUHC and ask it to answer those points, if that is all right with him.

The noble Lord, Lord Jones,...

The point of the debate is to approve the order. Here we go.

The point of the debate is to approve the order. Here we go.

Further information: if the House votes the order down, that is a sign that the Government must change the process.

Further information: if the House votes the order down, that is a sign that the Government must change the process.

I am not giving pay rises, I can assure the noble Baroness.

I am not giving pay rises, I can assure the noble Baroness.

As I said, I fully appreciate the issue of people who use keys to pay their energy costs, which are higher. Let me take that back as a special project. I will speak to the Secretary of State, who I will see tomorrow, and she may well have a thought...

As I said, I fully appreciate the issue of people who use keys to pay their energy costs, which are higher. Let me take that back as a special project. I will speak to the Secretary of State, who I will see tomorrow, and she may well have a thought...

I shall do so. The noble Baroness also raised the benefit cap not being increased. Again, there is a statutory duty to review the levels of the cap at least once in each Parliament. I am advised that this will happen at the appropriate time.

I shall do so. The noble Baroness also raised the benefit cap not being increased. Again, there is a statutory duty to review the levels of the cap at least once in each Parliament. I am advised that this will happen at the appropriate time.