Pensions Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 3:30 pm on 27 October 2008.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Baroness Noakes Baroness Noakes Shadow Minister, Treasury 3:30, 27 October 2008

My Lords, the Minister continues to disappoint me. The issue is very clear. We have considerable concerns about this project, particularly about when it will be delivered and the cost. We do not accept that personal accounts are acceptable at any cost, and considerable doubts have been raised about what those costs might be.

The amendment was seeking to get into the public domain information equivalent to that produced in the context of commercial confidentiality concerns for identity cards. The Government are not seeking to be as transparent and open as they should be. Nevertheless, I do not think that it is appropriate to divide the House on this amendment. We have heard what the Minister has said. If the Minister and his Government do not deliver on that promise, we will all be clear where the blame will lie if and when the project does what many fear it will do—in the words of Mr Frank Field, to implode. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.