Speeches by Milne.

“We have tabled a number of amendments designed to improve people’s access to advice. As I said in a previous sitting, for me, the biggest missing link in this Bill is the absence of action on pensions advice. Relatively few people are able—or perhaps willing— to access paid advice, and that situation is not likely to c…”

“I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.”

“I beg to move amendment 268, in clause 58, page 67, line 34, leave out subsection (a) and insert— “(a) that, as at the date of the application, the financial position of the ceding scheme is— (i) not strong enough to enable the trustees to arrange an insurer buy-out, or (ii) not affordable for the next 36 months follow…”

“This is really about trying to place the Minister’s attention on this important issue—we will not press the new clause to a vote. It is about focusing the Minister’s mind on the task at hand. The undersaving groups include, but are not limited to, women, ethnic minority groups and others affected by long-term pay or pe…”

“I thank the hon. Member for her question. We have to look at performance: over the years, most people—the great majority of people—have not been getting any advice. Those who do tend to be better off because they have more private pensions, so they are obviously far more engaged, but the majority of people, especially …”

“I thank the Minister for his reassurance, but urge him to keep this in mind. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”

“Any changes to the BCSSS pension scheme rules require Government action; trustees can only act within their current rules. I pay tribute to my hon. Friends the Members for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe (David Chadwick), who has been working hard to raise his constituents’ voices in relation to this urgent issue, and for …”

“Further to the remarks made by my hon. Friend the Member for Torbay on the new clauses, and as the hon. Member for Aberdeen North commented earlier, pension Bills come along once in a generation, so we are taking this opportunity to bring a number of long-standing issues under scrutiny, hopefully for comment.”

“I thank the Minister for his reply. I take his comments about trying to reduce complexity. That is a wholly good thing for all concerned, not least us. Other contributors asked, how necessary is this? Are there not services already out there, or is this not the direction of travel? Do we really need to take this action…”

“I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. New clause 10 would require that provisions relating to the use of electronic mail for direct marketing purposes would apply to communications from firms providing targeted support on pensions or from qualifying pension schemes. That matters because pension savers d…”

“I thank the Minister and beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Clause, by leave, withdrawn. New Clause 10 Use of electronic mail for direct marketing purposes relating to pensions “(1) Section 22(3) of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 is deemed to apply to unsolicited electro…”

“Obviously, all mine were absolutely above board. Currently, the privacy and electronic communications regulations do not clearly cover pension-related marketing from schemes or targeted support firms. This new clause seeks to close that loophole. People should be able to trust that communications from their scheme or a…”

“I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. New clause 9 would require the Secretary of State to commission an independent review into the application and impact of state deduction mechanisms in occupational defined benefit pension schemes. It focuses specifically on clawback provisions in the Midland bank st…”

“I thank the Minister for his clarification. I emphasise that the new clause is as much for industry’s comfort as Parliament’s; nevertheless, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Clause, by leave, withdrawn. New Clause 44 Administration levy “(1) The Pensions Act 2004 is amended as follows. (2) In section 116 (gra…”

“I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. Overall, this Bill has wide cross-party support, as evidenced by the fact that we have been rattling through it at such a pace. However, the power of mandation is undoubtedly the most controversial aspect. To be briefly Shakespearean: to mandate or not to mandate, t…”

“I thank the Minister for his clarification, and I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Clause, by leave, withdrawn.”

“I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. The new clause would require the Secretary of State to commission an independent review into pension losses suffered by former employees of AEA Technology. It focuses on employees who transferred benefits from the UK Atomic Energy Authority to AEA on privatisation i…”

“I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. The new clause would have the effect of making pension scheme trustees truly independent of the sponsoring companies so that they can protect scheme members’ interests without any conflict of interest. Trustees should act solely in the best interests of their member…”

“That is a very fair comment—I will not repeat it. Overall, we would like to press new clause 1 to a vote, in order to put it on the record, without necessarily expecting victory. Question put, That the clause be read a Second time.”

“I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. The new clause would require the Secretary of State to report on the Velux pensions case. It would require him to report within 12 months on how occupational pension schemes exclude certain employees based on job classification or their start date. The report would …”