To ask His Majesty's Government, following their ad hoc analysis on State Pension uprating, published on 29 September, and in relation to their proposed changes to the state pension from 2030, whether they will publish the assumed figures used for the decade 2030-2040 by year for (1) average earnings growth, (2) inflation/CPI,...

To ask His Majesty's Government, following their ad hoc analysis on State Pension uprating, published on 29 September, and in relation to their proposed changes to the state pension from 2030, whether they will publish the assumed figures used for the decade 2030-2040 by year for (1) average earnings growth, (2) inflation/CPI,...

To ask His Majesty's Government why they intend to legislate for the changes to the triple lock in this Parliament given the timing of the intended changes will be after the next general election.

To ask His Majesty's Government why they intend to legislate for the changes to the triple lock in this Parliament given the timing of the intended changes will be after the next general election.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the basis of retaining 2.5 per cent as one of the three levers of in the changed triple lock model.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the basis of retaining 2.5 per cent as one of the three levers of in the changed triple lock model.

Lords statement on the Government's plan for the future uprating of the state pension.

Lords statement on the Government's plan for the future uprating of the state pension.

My Lords, the triple lock was introduced by a Conservative Chancellor to tackle the very serious problem of pensioner poverty. Its introduction reflected a fundamental principle: those who work hard, pay their taxes and contribute to our country throughout their working lives should be able to enjoy security and dignity...

My Lords, the triple lock was introduced by a Conservative Chancellor to tackle the very serious problem of pensioner poverty. Its introduction reflected a fundamental principle: those who work hard, pay their taxes and contribute to our country throughout their working lives should be able to enjoy security and dignity...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for setting out the Government’s plans for the future of the state pension. I have read it two or three times and I think I understand it. The triple lock is not simply an accounting method; it is a commitment to fairness between generations,...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for setting out the Government’s plans for the future of the state pension. I have read it two or three times and I think I understand it. The triple lock is not simply an accounting method; it is a commitment to fairness between generations,...

My Lords, I thank both noble Lords for their contributions. I will respond to some of the more specific points in a moment, but it is important to set out the context behind what we are doing. We are fulfilling our promise to keep the triple lock for the duration...

My Lords, I thank both noble Lords for their contributions. I will respond to some of the more specific points in a moment, but it is important to set out the context behind what we are doing. We are fulfilling our promise to keep the triple lock for the duration...

Can the Minister set out exactly what will happen to the state pension in Scotland? If possible, can she confirm that the Scottish Government will get extra money to spend on social care of whatever they wish?

Can the Minister set out exactly what will happen to the state pension in Scotland? If possible, can she confirm that the Scottish Government will get extra money to spend on social care of whatever they wish?

I thank my noble friend for that question. Yes, I am very happy to do that, because I gather that there have been some confusing statements coming out. Scottish pensioners will have a rising state pension every year, as will pensioners across our country. It is really important that everybody...

I thank my noble friend for that question. Yes, I am very happy to do that, because I gather that there have been some confusing statements coming out. Scottish pensioners will have a rising state pension every year, as will pensioners across our country. It is really important that everybody...

My Lords, I commend the courage of the Government in questioning the triple lock at this time if there is to be a deal to help with social care. The hypocrisy of the Opposition Benches, having lost control of public spending and welfare spending in their term of office, is...

My Lords, I commend the courage of the Government in questioning the triple lock at this time if there is to be a deal to help with social care. The hypocrisy of the Opposition Benches, having lost control of public spending and welfare spending in their term of office, is...

I thank the noble Lord for calling that out; I am grateful to him—I will not go back there, as I will only get worked up again. I will stay on the other point that he is raising. I am afraid that I am not able to give him the...

I thank the noble Lord for calling that out; I am grateful to him—I will not go back there, as I will only get worked up again. I will stay on the other point that he is raising. I am afraid that I am not able to give him the...

My Lords, the legislation is to be introduced in this Parliament, but the obvious question is: why do the Government not wait to put it in their manifesto and then introduce the legislation in the next Parliament once they have a national mandate? I turn specifically to trying to understand...

My Lords, the legislation is to be introduced in this Parliament, but the obvious question is: why do the Government not wait to put it in their manifesto and then introduce the legislation in the next Parliament once they have a national mandate? I turn specifically to trying to understand...

I can assure the noble Baroness that there were no smoke and mirrors in the Answer that I gave her. The Answer made it clear where those figures came from. The modelling is based on Pensim3, which, as she will remember from her time in my department, is a dynamic...

I can assure the noble Baroness that there were no smoke and mirrors in the Answer that I gave her. The Answer made it clear where those figures came from. The modelling is based on Pensim3, which, as she will remember from her time in my department, is a dynamic...

My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Stedman-Scott, asked when Ministers will have the courage to take difficult decisions. I am proud that we have a Prime Minister who has taken a difficult decision that politicians have been avoiding for years. We all know that the ratchet effect of the triple...

My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Stedman-Scott, asked when Ministers will have the courage to take difficult decisions. I am proud that we have a Prime Minister who has taken a difficult decision that politicians have been avoiding for years. We all know that the ratchet effect of the triple...

I am very grateful to my noble friend for that fine question. I absolutely share her admiration for the Prime Minister in this, because these are difficult decisions. The country needs and deserves leadership, and it needs and deserves leaders who are willing to look at the hard problems and...

I am very grateful to my noble friend for that fine question. I absolutely share her admiration for the Prime Minister in this, because these are difficult decisions. The country needs and deserves leadership, and it needs and deserves leaders who are willing to look at the hard problems and...

My Lords, the plan would clearly require a very heavy care tax because the savings under the pension in the early years would be nowhere near the cost of that service. Would the intention be to abolish the contributory principle of the state pension and to abolish the National Insurance...

My Lords, the plan would clearly require a very heavy care tax because the savings under the pension in the early years would be nowhere near the cost of that service. Would the intention be to abolish the contributory principle of the state pension and to abolish the National Insurance...

My Lords, please do not set any hares running. If the noble Lord believes that that is a good way forward, I encourage him to join the conversation and make those proposals to the noble Baroness, Lady Casey. I am sure she will be very glad to receive those and...

My Lords, please do not set any hares running. If the noble Lord believes that that is a good way forward, I encourage him to join the conversation and make those proposals to the noble Baroness, Lady Casey. I am sure she will be very glad to receive those and...

My Lords, I echo the comments made by several noble Lords commending the Government and the Prime Minister for the courage to suggest opening up this debate. It is timely and it is long overdue, not least because the primary purpose of the triple lock, which was to reverse the...

My Lords, I echo the comments made by several noble Lords commending the Government and the Prime Minister for the courage to suggest opening up this debate. It is timely and it is long overdue, not least because the primary purpose of the triple lock, which was to reverse the...

I am very grateful to my noble friend, because there have indeed been scare stories, and some of them have been downright dishonest and I am disappointed to have seen them—not from anyone in this House, obviously, I hasten to add. But I am very happy to say yes to...

I am very grateful to my noble friend, because there have indeed been scare stories, and some of them have been downright dishonest and I am disappointed to have seen them—not from anyone in this House, obviously, I hasten to add. But I am very happy to say yes to...

My Lords, when the coalition introduced the triple lock, it also implemented the Liberal Democrat policy of lifting the personal allowance threshold. Subsequent Governments have frozen the personal allowance and not kept increasing it, so we have seen over the last decade more than a million pensioners on very modest...

My Lords, when the coalition introduced the triple lock, it also implemented the Liberal Democrat policy of lifting the personal allowance threshold. Subsequent Governments have frozen the personal allowance and not kept increasing it, so we have seen over the last decade more than a million pensioners on very modest...