My Lords, my understanding is that information is available on the web. However, I will double-check to make sure that it is. To be fair to everyone likely to be involved, we clearly have a responsibility for making sure that publicity is available. I will check what manner of publicity...

My Lords, my understanding is that information is available on the web. However, I will double-check to make sure that it is. To be fair to everyone likely to be involved, we clearly have a responsibility for making sure that publicity is available. I will check what manner of publicity...

Draft SI on financial assistance scheme (modifications and miscellaneous amendments)(SI 2005/3256). Lords debate on a motion to approve. Agreed to on question. Debated with draft SI on financial assistance scheme (appeals) (SI 2005/3273).

Draft SI on financial assistance scheme (modifications and miscellaneous amendments)(SI 2005/3256). Lords debate on a motion to approve. Agreed to on question. Debated with draft SI on financial assistance scheme (appeals) (SI 2005/3273).

No, my Lords, I do not think I can do that. It is quite clear that the review of the required sum for the FAS will have to be set alongside other government priorities. It must therefore fall to be dealt with within the next spending round review. I say...

No, my Lords, I do not think I can do that. It is quite clear that the review of the required sum for the FAS will have to be set alongside other government priorities. It must therefore fall to be dealt with within the next spending round review. I say...

My Lords, I am sorry to come back again. However, just now I asked about the department’s advertising of the scheme, to which the Minister did not respond.

My Lords, I am sorry to come back again. However, just now I asked about the department’s advertising of the scheme, to which the Minister did not respond.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for giving way. He mentioned the question of the amount under the scheme being reviewed in the next public spending round. My honourable friend Danny Alexander, whose constituency’s name I will not attempt to repeat at this time of night as it would detain...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for giving way. He mentioned the question of the amount under the scheme being reviewed in the next public spending round. My honourable friend Danny Alexander, whose constituency’s name I will not attempt to repeat at this time of night as it would detain...

My Lords, these are the latest estimates that I have been given. However, they come with the caveat that at the moment it is very difficult to estimate the number of pensioners, and I think that we will have to wait until the end of February to have a clearer...

My Lords, these are the latest estimates that I have been given. However, they come with the caveat that at the moment it is very difficult to estimate the number of pensioners, and I think that we will have to wait until the end of February to have a clearer...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. In view of the figures that were bandied about when we discussed the Bill and on subsequent occasions, 15,000 seems to me to be a very small figure. Is that because so far applications have not been made or is...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. In view of the figures that were bandied about when we discussed the Bill and on subsequent occasions, 15,000 seems to me to be a very small figure. Is that because so far applications have not been made or is...

rose to move, That the draft regulations laid before the House on 26 October be approved. [7th Report from the Joint Committee and 13th Report from the Merits Committee]. The noble Lord said: My Lords, in moving the Financial Assistance Scheme (Modifications and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005, I shall speak...

rose to move, That the draft regulations laid before the House on 26 October be approved. [7th Report from the Joint Committee and 13th Report from the Merits Committee]. The noble Lord said: My Lords, in moving the Financial Assistance Scheme (Modifications and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005, I shall speak...

My Lords, I am grateful to both the noble Lords, Lord Skelmersdale and Lord Oakeshott, for their comments. Although they made some criticisms of the Government’s handling of this measure, I am grateful for their general support for the regulations. I start by dealing with the issue of errors and, again,...

My Lords, I am grateful to both the noble Lords, Lord Skelmersdale and Lord Oakeshott, for their comments. Although they made some criticisms of the Government’s handling of this measure, I am grateful for their general support for the regulations. I start by dealing with the issue of errors and, again,...

My Lords, I echo the opening words of the noble Lord, Lord Oakeshott, and say that we few pensions addicts—not, I hope, interested persons, in the sense that the Minister used—are grateful to the Minister for explaining the regulations so clearly. I have no points of detail to raise, other than...

My Lords, I echo the opening words of the noble Lord, Lord Oakeshott, and say that we few pensions addicts—not, I hope, interested persons, in the sense that the Minister used—are grateful to the Minister for explaining the regulations so clearly. I have no points of detail to raise, other than...

My Lords, when I met the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, earlier, he suggested that he would prefer to hold his fire until I had shot my bolt; so I am happy to start. I thank the Minister for his explanation of these regulations and for having the courtesy to write to...

My Lords, when I met the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, earlier, he suggested that he would prefer to hold his fire until I had shot my bolt; so I am happy to start. I thank the Minister for his explanation of these regulations and for having the courtesy to write to...