Clause 12 - Annual reports to Secretary of State
Pensions Bill
4:15 pm
Mr Malcolm Wicks (Minister for pensions, Department for Work and Pensions; Croydon North, Labour)
As for whether the annual report goes to the Secretary of State or Parliament, my instinct is to say ''same difference''. The clause provides for an annual report to the Secretary of State, but the Secretary of State will lay a copy of every report he receives under the clause before both Houses of Parliament—and will send one by special
courier to the hon. Members for Northavon and for Eastbourne. I need to move the amendments allowing that on Report, but that is our intention.
I do not want to go over the same overture, but the OPRA practice was to lay the report before the Secretary of State, and we are following that practice. However, Parliament will have ample opportunity to receive and discuss the report.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 12 ordered to stand part of the Bill.