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Session
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2005-06 (114)
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Legislative stage
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Subject
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Publisher
In the light of the National Audit Office report on The Right of Access to Open Countryside, which body supplies open access information leaflets to tourist information centres; who decides the content of those leaflets; who pays for the printing of the leaflets; and what system is used to pass...
In the light of the National Audit Office report on The Right of Access to Open Countryside, which body supplies open access information leaflets to tourist information centres; who decides the content of those leaflets; who pays for the printing of the leaflets; and what system is used to pass...
Asked by
Baroness Byford
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
28 June 2006
The Countryside Agency has a duty under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to provide information to the public about the right of access. The agency, in consultation with key stakeholders, was responsible for producing, printing and distributing national open access information leaflets to tourist information centres. Depending on the quantity of leaflets required by the tourist information centres, they were sent either by Royal Mail or by courier service.
Other bodies such as National Park authorities and local authorities have also produced open access information leaflets at a local level.
Subjects
Access; Countryside; Leaflets; Rights of way; Tourism
Date
28 June 2006
Reference
6483; 683 c149-50WA
House
House of Lords
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of compiling, printing and posting the leaflet Single Payment Scheme: Additional Cross-compliance Requirements; and whether there are plans to issue further single payment scheme publications in the current financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of compiling, printing and posting the leaflet Single Payment Scheme: Additional Cross-compliance Requirements; and whether there are plans to issue further single payment scheme publications in the current financial year.
Asked by
David Laws
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Barry Gardiner
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
7 June 2006
For answer on
12 June 2006
Answered on
19 June 2006
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has not issued a publication entitled the Single Payment Scheme: Additional Cross-compliance Requirements. RPA did publish recently a supplement of the Cross Compliance Handbook for England 2006, for which the cost of compiling, printing and posting was £85,871.00There are plans to produce a 2007 version of the Cross Compliance Handbook for England, incorporating any new statutory management requirements that have to be implemented under EU Regulations and a 2007 supplement for the current Set aside Handbook and Guidance.
Subjects
Agriculture; Leaflets; Rural Payments Agency
Date
19 June 2006
Reference
447 c1572W; 76649
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of compiling, printing and posting the leaflet Celebrating the Rural Development Service; and whether there are plans to issue further Rural Development Service leaflets prior to the service’s replacement in October.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of compiling, printing and posting the leaflet Celebrating the Rural Development Service; and whether there are plans to issue further Rural Development Service leaflets prior to the service’s replacement in October.
Asked by
David Laws
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Barry Gardiner
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
7 June 2006
For answer on
12 June 2006
Answered on
15 June 2006
The total cost was £8,300.There are no plans to issue further leaflets.
Subjects
Leaflets; Rural Development Service
Date
15 June 2006
Reference
447 c1345W;447 c1344W; 76650
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to ensure that leaflets on pensions and disability benefits from his Department are freely available at (a) post offices, (b) libraries, (c) doctors’ surgeries, (d) council offices and (e) citizens advice bureaux.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to ensure that leaflets on pensions and disability benefits from his Department are freely available at (a) post offices, (b) libraries, (c) doctors’ surgeries, (d) council offices and (e) citizens advice bureaux.
Asked by
Ian Taylor
(Conservative)
Answered by
Anne McGuire
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
17 January 2006
For answer on
19 January 2006
Answered on
14 June 2006
Although there is no national agreement for the display of leaflets at libraries, doctors’ surgeries, council offices and citizens advice bureaux there are a number of routes which ensure the availability of leaflets at these locations.The Pension Service’s local service teams, located throughout England, Scotland and Wales, have local partnerships with external organisations and formally monitor the use and availability of leaflets at ‘Hard Copy Information Points’ on partner premises. They also share local knowledge and experience of which leaflets are the most popular and most useful to our customers.The 80,000 subscribers to the Department’s Publicity Register receive a quarterly newsletter called ‘Touchbase’ which provides details of current and forthcoming information campaigns. Subscribers are also able to order leaflets directly from the Department through its on-line catalogue of information products.Some private companies provide information services in public locations such as libraries and doctors’ waiting rooms. The costs of providing this service are usually met directly by the Department or the by the venue but the information remains free of any charge to the public.Recent customer research has indicated that disabled people would prefer information to be available at the point of diagnosis. The Disability and Carers Service are proposing to develop an awareness poster for display in locations such as doctors’ surgeries, hospitals and local authorities that will signpost potential customers to more detailed information. Where possible the outlet displaying the poster will also hold stocks of leaflets.There is no longer any contractual agreement with the Post Office to display DWP leaflets.
Subjects
Leaflets; Social security benefits
Date
14 June 2006
Reference
44037; 447 c1287W;447 c1288W
House
House of Commons
Type
House of Commons papers; Select Committee oral evidence;
Parliamentary committees
Committee
Committee of Public Accounts
Subjects
Department for Work and Pensions; Leaflets; Publicity
Date
7 June 2006
Reference
HC 1202-i 2005-06
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what is his Department’s policy for reviewing instructional leaflets it has issued.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what is his Department’s policy for reviewing instructional leaflets it has issued.
Asked by
Lord Hammond of Runnymede
(Conservative)
Answered by
Anne McGuire
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
10 February 2006
For answer on
14 February 2006
Answered on
6 June 2006
The Department’s policy is that its leaflets should be reviewed every six months to ensure accuracy of content.
Subjects
Department for Work and Pensions; Leaflets
Date
6 June 2006
Reference
447 c514W; 51980
House
House of Commons
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many copies of the summary leaflet Budget 2006 were distributed to (a) hospitals, (b) doctors' waiting rooms, (c) libraries and (d) other public places following the Budget; how many (i) hospitals, (ii)doctors' waiting rooms and (iii) libraries requested such leaflets; and what...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many copies of the summary leaflet Budget 2006 were distributed to (a) hospitals, (b) doctors' waiting rooms, (c) libraries and (d) other public places following the Budget; how many (i) hospitals, (ii)doctors' waiting rooms and (iii) libraries requested such leaflets; and what...
Asked by
Lord Robathan
(Conservative)
Answered by
John Healey
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
25 April 2006
For answer on
27 April 2006
Answered on
4 May 2006
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answerI gave to the hon. Member for South-West Hertfordshire (Mr. Gauke) on 24 April 2006, Official Report, column 8710W.175,000 copies of the summary leaflet were distributed to libraries in the UK.
Subjects
Budgets; Leaflets; Budget March 2006
Date
4 May 2006
Reference
445 c1740W;445 c1740W; 66844
House
House of Commons
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation or handouts produced by Valuation Office Agency staff for its session at the Integrating GIS and CAMA Conference held from 19 to 22 February in Disney's Coronado Springs Convention Center, Orlando,...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation or handouts produced by Valuation Office Agency staff for its session at the Integrating GIS and CAMA Conference held from 19 to 22 February in Disney's Coronado Springs Convention Center, Orlando,...
Asked by
Lord Pickles
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Primarolo
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 February 2006
For answer on
2 March 2006
Answered on
4 May 2006
A copy of the Valuation Office Agency's presentation for the Integrating CIS and CAMA 2006 Conference entitled improving Efficiency by Estimating the Confidence in Property Valuations”” has been placed in the Library.
Subjects
Leaflets; Valuation Office Agency
Date
4 May 2006
Reference
56193; 445 c1745W;445 c1745W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation or handouts produced by Valuation Office Agency staff for its session at the 8th International Conference of the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation which took place from 22 to 25...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation or handouts produced by Valuation Office Agency staff for its session at the 8th International Conference of the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation which took place from 22 to 25...
Asked by
Lord Pickles
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Primarolo
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 February 2006
For answer on
2 March 2006
Answered on
4 May 2006
A copy of the Valuation Office Agency's presentation for the 8th International Conference of the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation entitled Valuation Specialist Properties for Rating”” has been placed in the Library. This was part of a joint presentation on Valuing Specialist Properties””.
Subjects
Leaflets; Valuation Office Agency
Date
4 May 2006
Reference
56212; 445 c1745W;445 c1745W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation or handouts produced by Valuation Office Agency staff for its session at the International Property Tax Institute conference between 6 and 7 February in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation or handouts produced by Valuation Office Agency staff for its session at the International Property Tax Institute conference between 6 and 7 February in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Asked by
Lord Pickles
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Primarolo
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
28 February 2006
For answer on
2 March 2006
Answered on
4 May 2006
A copy of the Valuation Office Agency's presentations and handouts for the International Property Tax Institute conference between 6 and 7 February 2006 entitled Training in the valuation of specialised properties in the UK”” and Valuation for Taxation Public Infrastructure”” have been placed in the Library.
Subjects
Leaflets; Valuation Office Agency
Date
4 May 2006
Reference
56194; 445 c1745W;445 c1745W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the remarks of the Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality, of 21 March 2006, Official Report, columns 214–15, if he will list (a) the candidates and (b) the parties responsible for the general election leaflets from...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the remarks of the Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality, of 21 March 2006, Official Report, columns 214–15, if he will list (a) the candidates and (b) the parties responsible for the general election leaflets from...
Asked by
Andrew Turner
(Conservative)
Answered by
Tony McNulty
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 March 2006
For answer on
27 March 2006
Answered on
2 May 2006
I will write to the hon. Member.
Subjects
Immigration controls; General elections; Leaflets; Publications
Date
2 May 2006
Reference
61672; 445 c1410W;445 c1410W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Budget 2006 summary leaflets were printed; and at what cost.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Budget 2006 summary leaflets were printed; and at what cost.
Asked by
David Gauke
(Conservative)
Answered by
John Healey
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
12 April 2006
For answer on
18 April 2006
Answered on
24 April 2006
Just over 1 million Budget 2006 summary leaflets were printed. The total cost of producing the Budget summary leaflets was around £151,000. The printing cost was around £69,000 and the distribution cost was around £82,000 as met from within the Treasury's departmental expenditure limits.The leaflet is designed to provide a concise and informative summary of the Budget for a wide audience.
Subjects
Budgets; Leaflets; Budget March 2006
Date
24 April 2006
Reference
445 c869-70W;445 c869-70W; 64140
House
House of Commons
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Budget 2006 summary leaflets were distributed to (a) doctors' surgeries, (b) hospitals and (c) other health service-related locations; and what the cost was of the distribution.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Budget 2006 summary leaflets were distributed to (a) doctors' surgeries, (b) hospitals and (c) other health service-related locations; and what the cost was of the distribution.
Asked by
David Gauke
(Conservative)
Answered by
John Healey
(Labour)
Answering body
Treasury
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
12 April 2006
For answer on
18 April 2006
Answered on
24 April 2006
The following table shows the number of Budget 2006 summary leaflets distributed to doctors' surgeries, hospitals and other health service related organisations.
The total cost of distribution of the Budget 2006 summary leaflet was around £82,000 including VAT. All costs were met from within the Treasury's departmental expenditure limits.The summary leaflet is designed to provide a concise and informative summary of the Budget. It is aimed at a wide audience, and was also sent to other public organisations such as libraries, post offices, schools and universities.
| Location | Number of leaflets distributed |
| (a) Doctors' surgeries | 200,000 |
| (b) Hospitals | 187,000 |
| (c) Other health service related organisations | 107,000 |
| (9)Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand |
Subjects
Budgets; Leaflets; Budget March 2006
Date
24 April 2006
Reference
445 c870W;445 c870W; 64141
House
House of Commons
My Lords, after very careful consideration, we have reached the view that we cannot accept the findings of maladministration made in the report and have, therefore, decided to reject all but one of its recommendations. We intend to issue a full response to this report in the next few weeks. Regarding the one recommendation that we are accepting, we have already begun work to review the time taken to wind up pension schemes.
My Lords, after very careful consideration, we have reached the view that we cannot accept the findings of maladministration made in the report and have, therefore, decided to reject all but one of its recommendations. We intend to issue a full response to this report in the next few weeks. Regarding the one recommendation that we are accepting, we have already begun work to review the time taken to wind up pension schemes.
Answered by
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord De Mauley
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
What action they propose to take as a result of the report of the Parliamentary Ombudsman on Trusting in the pensions promise.
Subjects
Department for Work and Pensions; Department of Social Security; Liability; Leaflets; Maladministration; Workplace pensions; Misrepresentation; Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; Pension funds; Pension rights
Date
23 March 2006
Reference
680 c352
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I do not accept the premise behind the noble Lord’s question for the same reason that, after very careful consideration, we rejected the recommendations of the ombudsman. All the leaflets that the ombudsman was concerned with made it clear in specific statements that they were not a full explanation of the law and were for general guidance only. None of the leaflets or statements formed a proper basis for scheme members, still less trustees who are professionally advised, to assess the security of individual pension schemes. The report fails to demonstrate that decisions taken by individual scheme members were influenced by information that was or was not in those leaflets. The report did not establish that the wording of the leaflets led to losses suffered by individuals. We estimate that the cost of fully implementing the ombudsman’s recommendation would be £15 billion over a 60-year period. On the basis that we cannot accept those recommendations, we are not able to make those payments.
My Lords, I do not accept the premise behind the noble Lord’s question for the same reason that, after very careful consideration, we rejected the recommendations of the ombudsman. All the leaflets that the ombudsman was concerned with made it clear in specific statements that they were not a full explanation of the law and were for general guidance only. None of the leaflets or statements formed a proper basis for scheme members, still less trustees who are professionally advised, to assess the security of individual pension schemes. The report fails to demonstrate that decisions taken by individual scheme members were influenced by information that was or was not in those leaflets. The report did not establish that the wording of the leaflets led to losses suffered by individuals. We estimate that the cost of fully implementing the ombudsman’s recommendation would be £15 billion over a 60-year period. On the basis that we cannot accept those recommendations, we are not able to make those payments.
Answered by
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord De Mauley
(Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. What action would Her Majesty’s Government take against any insurance company that had acted as they have done? Would they, as they did when insurers over-promised personal pensions, order them to pay compensation of £14 billion?
Subjects
Department for Work and Pensions; Department of Social Security; Liability; Leaflets; Maladministration; Workplace pensions; Misrepresentation; Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; Pension funds; Pension rights
Date
23 March 2006
Reference
680 c353
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. What action would Her Majesty’s Government take against any insurance company that had acted as they have done? Would they, as they did when insurers over-promised personal pensions, order them to pay compensation of £14 billion?
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. What action would Her Majesty’s Government take against any insurance company that had acted as they have done? Would they, as they did when insurers over-promised personal pensions, order them to pay compensation of £14 billion?
Asked by
Lord De Mauley
(Conservative)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
23 March 2006
My Lords, I do not accept the premise behind the noble Lord’s question for the same reason that, after very careful consideration, we rejected the recommendations of the ombudsman. All the leaflets that the ombudsman was concerned with made it clear in specific statements that they were not a full explanation of the law and were for general guidance only. None of the leaflets or statements formed a proper basis for scheme members, still less trustees who are professionally advised, to assess the security of individual pension schemes. The report fails to demonstrate that decisions taken by individual scheme members were influenced by information that was or was not in those leaflets. The report did not establish that the wording of the leaflets led to losses suffered by individuals. We estimate that the cost of fully implementing the ombudsman’s recommendation would be £15 billion over a 60-year period. On the basis that we cannot accept those recommendations, we are not able to make those payments.
Subjects
Compensation; Department for Work and Pensions; Department of Social Security; Liability; Leaflets; Maladministration; Workplace pensions; Misrepresentation; Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; Pension funds; Pension rights
Date
23 March 2006
Reference
680 c353
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does my noble friend share—as I am sure does the House—everyone’s regret at what has happened to those pension schemes, in the same way as we all deeply regret the collapse of Equitable Life? However, if employers, employees and trustees really believed, on the basis of a couple of leaflets, that the Government were underwriting and guaranteeing the whole of the occupational pension system, what incentive would there have been for any employer ever fully to fund a pension scheme? It is called ““moral hazard””. Does my noble friend therefore agree that the right response is to strengthen and speed up the FAS?
My Lords, does my noble friend share—as I am sure does the House—everyone’s regret at what has happened to those pension schemes, in the same way as we all deeply regret the collapse of Equitable Life? However, if employers, employees and trustees really believed, on the basis of a couple of leaflets, that the Government were underwriting and guaranteeing the whole of the occupational pension system, what incentive would there have been for any employer ever fully to fund a pension scheme? It is called ““moral hazard””. Does my noble friend therefore agree that the right response is to strengthen and speed up the FAS?
Asked by
Baroness Hollis of Heigham
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
23 March 2006
My Lords, I echo my noble friend’s point that anyone who has met or knows about the circumstances of people who were affected by the problems with pension schemes can have only the utmost sympathy for them. My noble friend was right to refer to the moral hazard. Responsibility in the end lay with those pension schemes and not with the Government. I reiterate: it is difficult to see what causal connection can be made between the very general information in those leaflets and the ombudsman’s recommendation that the Government should pay £15 billion over 60 years. There can be no connection.
Subjects
Department for Work and Pensions; Department of Social Security; Liability; Leaflets; Maladministration; Workplace pensions; Misrepresentation; Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; Pension funds; Pension rights
Date
23 March 2006
Reference
680 c354
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I informed the noble Lord last week of the number of people who had received money from the FAS. He is right that it is roughly estimated that £100,000 has been paid out so far. The Government are disappointed that so few people have received payments so far. We are dependent on information provided by trustees. I have made sure that officials in the financial assistance scheme are being proactive and getting in touch with trustees to expedite the provision of information and speed up payments. We want to speed up payments.
The noble Lord mentioned the Statement that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister made last week. He will know that we were committed to reviewing the amount of money that should be given to the FAS as part of the next spending review. We remain committed to that. The Prime Minister said last week that we would do that as quickly as possible, and we will do so.
My Lords, I informed the noble Lord last week of the number of people who had received money from the FAS. He is right that it is roughly estimated that £100,000 has been paid out so far. The Government are disappointed that so few people have received payments so far. We are dependent on information provided by trustees. I have made sure that officials in the financial assistance scheme are being proactive and getting in touch with trustees to expedite the provision of information and speed up payments. We want to speed up payments.
The noble Lord mentioned the Statement that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister made last week. He will know that we were committed to reviewing the amount of money that should be given to the FAS as part of the next spending review. We remain committed to that. The Prime Minister said last week that we would do that as quickly as possible, and we will do so.
Answered by
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
(Liberal Democrat)
Type
Oral answers to questions
My Lords, does the Minister accept that the anger of the 85,000 people who have lost their pensions has been aggravated by the meanness of the financial assistance scheme on which they have to rely? Will he confirm—I have received the figure from his office; he was not able to answer me last week—that the amount paid out so far by the FAS is about £100,000, which is less than £1.25 for each of the 85,000 people who have lost their pension? Will he confirm that figure for the record? What exactly did the Prime Minister mean last week when he talked about expediting a review of the financial assistance scheme? Has the Chancellor of the Exchequer agreed that it will be reviewed in advance of the current spending round? If he has agreed, when will the first penny from that review reach the pensioners who need it?
Subjects
Department for Work and Pensions; Department of Social Security; Liability; Leaflets; Maladministration; Workplace pensions; Misrepresentation; Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; Pension funds; Pension rights
Date
23 March 2006
Reference
680 c353-4
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, have the Ministers in the department learnt nothing from the report? I am grateful to the Minister for the voluminous package of departmental pension guides that I received last night, following a request that I made during my response to the recent Statement. I observe that, in July 2001, one of the booklets stated:"““If your employer runs an occupational pension scheme, you should think carefully before deciding not to join it””."
The word ““not”” was in heavy type. Would the Minister authorise the same words today? If not, what advice would he give to today’s pensioners?
My Lords, have the Ministers in the department learnt nothing from the report? I am grateful to the Minister for the voluminous package of departmental pension guides that I received last night, following a request that I made during my response to the recent Statement. I observe that, in July 2001, one of the booklets stated:"““If your employer runs an occupational pension scheme, you should think carefully before deciding not to join it””."
The word ““not”” was in heavy type. Would the Minister authorise the same words today? If not, what advice would he give to today’s pensioners?
Asked by
Lord Skelmersdale
(Conservative)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
23 March 2006
My Lords, that seems to be very fair advice. The noble Lord will have noticed that each of the leaflets states in one way or another that it is general guidance only. The noble Lord could have quoted from a leaflet produced by his government, because the ombudsman’s report covers the period when his government were in office, following the passing of the Act that led to the minimum funding requirement. The limitations of the MFR and what it meant were made clear by the late Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish. I am afraid that it is difficult to conclude that the ombudsman is right.
Subjects
Department for Work and Pensions; Department of Social Security; Liability; Leaflets; Maladministration; Workplace pensions; Misrepresentation; Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; Pension funds; Pension rights
Date
23 March 2006
Reference
680 c354
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does the Minister accept that the anger of the 85,000 people who have lost their pensions has been aggravated by the meanness of the financial assistance scheme on which they have to rely? Will he confirm—I have received the figure from his office; he was not able to answer me last week—that the amount paid out so far by the FAS is about £100,000, which is less than £1.25 for each of the 85,000 people who have lost their pension? Will he confirm that figure for the record? What exactly did the Prime Minister mean last week when he talked about expediting a review of the financial assistance scheme? Has the Chancellor of the Exchequer agreed that it will be reviewed in advance of the current spending round? If he has agreed, when will the first penny from that review reach the pensioners who need it?
My Lords, does the Minister accept that the anger of the 85,000 people who have lost their pensions has been aggravated by the meanness of the financial assistance scheme on which they have to rely? Will he confirm—I have received the figure from his office; he was not able to answer me last week—that the amount paid out so far by the FAS is about £100,000, which is less than £1.25 for each of the 85,000 people who have lost their pension? Will he confirm that figure for the record? What exactly did the Prime Minister mean last week when he talked about expediting a review of the financial assistance scheme? Has the Chancellor of the Exchequer agreed that it will be reviewed in advance of the current spending round? If he has agreed, when will the first penny from that review reach the pensioners who need it?
Asked by
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
23 March 2006
My Lords, I informed the noble Lord last week of the number of people who had received money from the FAS. He is right that it is roughly estimated that £100,000 has been paid out so far. The Government are disappointed that so few people have received payments so far. We are dependent on information provided by trustees. I have made sure that officials in the financial assistance scheme are being proactive and getting in touch with trustees to expedite the provision of information and speed up payments. We want to speed up payments.
The noble Lord mentioned the Statement that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister made last week. He will know that we were committed to reviewing the amount of money that should be given to the FAS as part of the next spending review. We remain committed to that. The Prime Minister said last week that we would do that as quickly as possible, and we will do so.
Subjects
Department for Work and Pensions; Department of Social Security; Liability; Leaflets; Maladministration; Workplace pensions; Misrepresentation; Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; Pension funds; Pension rights
Date
23 March 2006
Reference
680 c353-4
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords