Speeches by Darling.

“The Liberal Democrats have opposed mandation from day one, and we have continued to oppose it throughout the passage of this Bill. The challenge is that once we cross the Rubicon, we change the dynamics of pensions significantly. Crucially, people need to have confidence that contributing to pensions is a good way of s…”

“The hon. Gentleman makes a powerful point; I am sure that the Minister will reflect on it when winding up. The Liberal Democrats continue to oppose mandation, and we plan to vote against the motion tonight.”

“The hon. Gentleman makes a powerful point; I am sure that the Minister will reflect on it when winding up. The Liberal Democrats continue to oppose mandation, and we plan to vote against the motion tonight.”

“The Liberal Democrats have opposed mandation from day one, and we have continued to oppose it throughout the passage of this Bill. The challenge is that once we cross the Rubicon, we change the dynamics of pensions significantly. Crucially, people need to have confidence that contributing to pensions is a good way of s…”

“As the shadow Secretary of State has said, there is a lot to be welcomed in the Bill. In considering the Bill, we have looked to Australia and Canada, and at best practice throughout the world, and there is much we have drawn from. For the Liberal Democrats, the pensions world that we are looking to enter with this Bil…”

“We need a Government who act as a facilitator of investment, but do not dictate investment. That way, we can ensure that we have a pipeline of opportunities that feed the Mansion House accord. The Government should be making the right weather for investment in the United Kingdom and creating opportunities for investmen…”

“Last week, I described mandation as a Trojan horse that had been sneaked into this Bill. Ministers have been sawing three legs off that Trojan horse, but it is still attempting to hop over the finish line at this late stage, and it still has something within it that is not welcomed by our pension industry. The pension …”

“A recent Guardian report highlighted how young people from more deprived communities are facing discrimination through the apprenticeship system. As my hon. Friend the Member for South Devon (Caroline Voaden) alluded to, there is a penalty if someone’s family also receives child benefit. How can the Minister intervene …”

“The Department for Work and Pensions is currently reviewing over 200,000 cases of overpayments for carers, some of whom have accrued up to £20,000 through a situation not of their own making. In the light of this, will the Secretary of State stop applying carers penalties until the Department has completed this review?”

“That would be really helpful. Would you recommend that the Government’s pivot towards the lower end is a short-term move for two to three years, to try to tackle the NEETs challenge at the moment, which can then be recalibrated in the longer term back towards level 7, so that there is the opportunity to develop people …”

“The Liberal Democrats broadly support the proposals before us in the Bill as a whole. I know from conversations with residents in Torbay that there are some challenges within the pensions market, and the Bill as a whole addresses an awful lot of them. However, I suggest that the Minister has been studying his Greek his…”

“You have said warm words about it. How do you evidence that? Is it set within people’s targets in your organisation and their personal priorities? Is it set in the priorities of your personal performance management? What is in your personal performance management plan over the next 12 months to do with young people?”

“Is there anything we could learn from similar economies in Europe, Canada or Australia in terms of boosting funding appropriately?”

“Are you considering ensuring there is a pipeline of opportunities for skills training? Are you at that stage yet, or is it just over the horizon? Equally, have you undertaken any assessment of the defunding of level 7—that leadership and management approach—and what impact that may have on productivity and growth in ou…”

“I await it with interest.”

“Before I go to my main question, I want to understand whether you are alive to a ticking time bomb that I am concerned about: the doubling in the number of youngsters who are now educated at home. Is that beginning to feed into your world yet, or is it too early doors for that?”

“This is the main question I want to explore with you. Clearly, as John as alluded to, you do not have a dedicated element focusing on youth and getting young people into work, so you need to ensure that it goes through your organisation like Torquay through a stick of rock. How do we achieve that? There is another elem…”

“Is the evidence that you have shared publicly available, or can you point us towards it?”

“What you just shared was really inspiring; thank you for all your work in this area. Understanding future skills need is a leading light in your world. The Government have made significant changes to their focus on apprenticeships. Have you done a risk or equality impact assessment of those changes? Are there any red f…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Hobhouse. The Liberal Democrats broadly welcome the draft regulations, but I wish to build on what the shadow Minister alluded to. The Minister talked about a one-year delay, but is she confident that it will be only one year? Does she believe that it may be pushed…”