My Lords, I beg to move the second Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 23 January be approved. 8th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, Considered in Grand Committee on 26 February.—(Lord McKenzie of Luton.)...

My Lords, I beg to move the second Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 23 January be approved. 8th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, Considered in Grand Committee on 26 February.—(Lord McKenzie of Luton.)...

Draft SI on guaranteed minimum pensions increase. Lords motion to approve. Agreed to on question (formal).

Draft SI on guaranteed minimum pensions increase. Lords motion to approve. Agreed to on question (formal).

Yes, I fully understand that, but my question could be translated as ““Do they still have a value?””, because I am beginning to doubt it.

Yes, I fully understand that, but my question could be translated as ““Do they still have a value?””, because I am beginning to doubt it.

I support the orders and welcome them, but the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, probed very shrewdly. It is right to support the needs of the poor. My noble friend made a very good speech and these are welcome and excellent upratings. However, can he say a little more on statutory...

I support the orders and welcome them, but the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, probed very shrewdly. It is right to support the needs of the poor. My noble friend made a very good speech and these are welcome and excellent upratings. However, can he say a little more on statutory...

I seem to remember that it was this Government’s policy to introduce paternity leave, following the successful previous policy of maternity leave. Time flies. I cannot remember whether it was four years ago or longer, but no doubt the Minister will be able to tell us in answer to the...

I seem to remember that it was this Government’s policy to introduce paternity leave, following the successful previous policy of maternity leave. Time flies. I cannot remember whether it was four years ago or longer, but no doubt the Minister will be able to tell us in answer to the...

Again, you have to look at the totality of support and income that goes to households. It is right to say that the winter fuel payment is not uprated annually. However, when you look at its current value of £200 and £300 for the over-80s and compare that with the...

Again, you have to look at the totality of support and income that goes to households. It is right to say that the winter fuel payment is not uprated annually. However, when you look at its current value of £200 and £300 for the over-80s and compare that with the...

No—it is never anything to do with the Liberal Democrats. There has been a dramatic improvement in outcomes. Both noble Lords touched on the issue of the economic climate and how that is going to impact on the figures. Of course, we know that the international credit crunch is producing...

No—it is never anything to do with the Liberal Democrats. There has been a dramatic improvement in outcomes. Both noble Lords touched on the issue of the economic climate and how that is going to impact on the figures. Of course, we know that the international credit crunch is producing...

Indeed. The purpose of the uprating is to make sure that their value is maintained, with the right not to maintain them as a guaranteed minimum pension in the future but to build an actuarial equivalence into normal benefits being provided for in the legislation that we discussed extensively last...

Indeed. The purpose of the uprating is to make sure that their value is maintained, with the right not to maintain them as a guaranteed minimum pension in the future but to build an actuarial equivalence into normal benefits being provided for in the legislation that we discussed extensively last...

I am grateful for the range of contributions. I shall try to deal with as many points as I can and will certainly write where I cannot. The noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, asked why we cannot do away with the guaranteed minimum pension. The Pensions Act 2007 contains provisions which...

I am grateful for the range of contributions. I shall try to deal with as many points as I can and will certainly write where I cannot. The noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, asked why we cannot do away with the guaranteed minimum pension. The Pensions Act 2007 contains provisions which...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2008. The noble Lord said: I believe that we are dealing with two orders, the second being the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2008. Both were laid before...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2008. The noble Lord said: I believe that we are dealing with two orders, the second being the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2008. Both were laid before...

If pension outgoings from the fund rise by the level of earnings, and income rises by the RPI, there is bound to be an imbalance between the two. Is that why the Government are building up the balance in the National Insurance Fund? Is this the real answer to the...

If pension outgoings from the fund rise by the level of earnings, and income rises by the RPI, there is bound to be an imbalance between the two. Is that why the Government are building up the balance in the National Insurance Fund? Is this the real answer to the...

Not specifically. I was going to come on to the surplus in the national insurance fund, because we inevitably debate it at this time of year. The reality, and the answer to the National Pensioners Convention, which says that that surplus could be used dramatically to increase pensions now, is...

Not specifically. I was going to come on to the surplus in the national insurance fund, because we inevitably debate it at this time of year. The reality, and the answer to the National Pensioners Convention, which says that that surplus could be used dramatically to increase pensions now, is...

From recollection, the Labour Force Survey asks a number of questions on a sampled basis, looking back a number of weeks and forward a number of weeks. It would count as employment if someone was available and in work for as little as an hour a week. But rather than...

From recollection, the Labour Force Survey asks a number of questions on a sampled basis, looking back a number of weeks and forward a number of weeks. It would count as employment if someone was available and in work for as little as an hour a week. But rather than...

That would be helpful, especially in view of the 16-hour rule.

That would be helpful, especially in view of the 16-hour rule.

Indeed. For the purposes of clarity I should set down in writing the different components of those two measures. My next point goes to the heart of the point that both noble Lords made about working-age families without children and the challenges of living perpetually on benefit when it is...

Indeed. For the purposes of clarity I should set down in writing the different components of those two measures. My next point goes to the heart of the point that both noble Lords made about working-age families without children and the challenges of living perpetually on benefit when it is...

The Minister cannot get away quite as easily as that. The winter fuel payment was set at £200 in 2003, I think, and is still £200 in 2008. Some of these thresholds and disregards do not do the job that he argues that they do.

The Minister cannot get away quite as easily as that. The winter fuel payment was set at £200 in 2003, I think, and is still £200 in 2008. Some of these thresholds and disregards do not do the job that he argues that they do.

That was nothing to do with me.

That was nothing to do with me.

I am very pleased to take part in this important and regular parliamentary occasion. It is sensible to take the two orders together. I would like to make one or two passing remarks about the Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order. I am not sure about the detail, but it appears...

I am very pleased to take part in this important and regular parliamentary occasion. It is sensible to take the two orders together. I would like to make one or two passing remarks about the Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order. I am not sure about the detail, but it appears...

Before the Division, I was raising one or two questions about the Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order. Do the Government have any plans to look at ways of getting rid of the guaranteed minimum pension? It is now a rump. I know that entitlements accrued between 1987 and the early...

Before the Division, I was raising one or two questions about the Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order. Do the Government have any plans to look at ways of getting rid of the guaranteed minimum pension? It is now a rump. I know that entitlements accrued between 1987 and the early...

I do not think that I was confusing them but I was most certainly comparing them, because there is an enormous difference. I was asking why the Minister thought that there was such an enormous difference.

I do not think that I was confusing them but I was most certainly comparing them, because there is an enormous difference. I was asking why the Minister thought that there was such an enormous difference.