Speeches by Darling.

“Q I have two key questions. We have heard repeatedly in evidence today about questions to do with secondary legislation and guidance. As we go through the Bill Committee and further stages, what confidence do you have as Minister that you will be able to give some clear signalling to the industry about what is likely t…”

“Grooming gangs are entirely abhorrent, as are all forms of grooming leading to sexual exploitation. This summer I met a Torbay resident whose 15-year-old adopted son had been groomed online and then prostituted online. Can the Minister please tell us how she intends to tackle all forms of grooming that lead to sexual e…”

“Q Thank you both for coming. Reflecting on pensions systems around the world, what one silver bullet would you both say would help drive positive change through this Bill and strengthen it if applied to it? Colin Clarke: That is a good question. Both our companies have recently been on various trips, to Australia, in p…”

“Q I seek some clarification from Michelle. At the moment, there is a fee extracted to support your organisation. What if that fee were ceased? Michelle Ostermann: I assume you are speaking of our levy?”

“Q The other element I just want to touch on briefly is whether you have any thoughts on educating firms’ trustees about what value for money really is? Quite often, as you have alluded to, it is the cheapest investment, rather than the one that gives the maximum return, that they might be seeing from the HR department …”

“Q We have already had some exploration of mandation and other opportunities around getting greater investment within the United Kingdom. I would welcome some more drawing out of how investing in UK opportunities could be amplified without the need for mandation. Rob Yuille: We have both mentioned the Mansion House acco…”

“Q We have heard a little about value for money from the previous witnesses. I would welcome some reflections from you on how that could be shaped appropriately to allow risk taking without dumbing down the returns for members, because the crucial thing is driving maximum return without too much risk taking. I would wel…”

“The Government are right to want to see more people with disabilities and long-term sickness get into work. Sadly, this was used to justify the savage cuts to benefits that were proposed earlier this year. My colleagues and I are hearing reports of cuts to current awards through Access to Work, and to new payments, bei…”

“Around a year ago, the Labour Government inherited from the previous Conservative Government around 3 million pensioners in poverty. Sadly, last winter’s cuts to the winter fuel payment saw many pensioners pushed into hardship. In the light of winter fuel price hikes, will the Minister reconsider the Government’s propo…”

“The war in Gaza is horrific on a number of different levels. I would like to focus on one particular level: it is the deadliest conflict for journalists, who often act as our window into atrocities. Will the Secretary of State please explain why we are selling any arms to Israel?”

“So the child poverty strategy is not going to have any impact—it does not matter. Can you explain the delay? You had planned to do it earlier this year; now it is going to be the autumn, and knowing the Government that could be December. Childhood is a really short period of time. We are letting our children in poverty…”

“But can you please explain why the slippage happened?”

“Thank you very much for attending today. It was just last November that you were with us. Reflecting on benefits for people with long-term health issues and disabilities, you talked about “genuine engagement” and not being led by cuts. In March, the papers published that, without consultation, there would be the highes…”

“Yes, but you are avoiding it. Why have you not published the child poverty strategy?”

“But can you explain why you have not published the child poverty strategy so far?”

“You chose not to consult.”

“Bearing in mind that we have 4.5 million children living in poverty, and childhood is a very short period in all our lives, the slippage that we have had on the child poverty strategy, from being published earlier this summer until potentially the autumn, is particularly disappointing. Can you give us a clear date when…”

“That is not disabled people. Why did you ignore disabled people, then, please?”

“But you ignored them in March. Can you explain why?”

“Why did you ignore disabled people, please?”