Clause 71 - Special procedure: applicable cases
Pensions Bill
10:45 am
Professor Steve Webb (Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Work & Pensions; Northavon, Liberal Democrat)
I shall pick up on the hon. Gentleman's comments. The Under-Secretary has helpfully supplied members of the Committee with a briefing note on general and special procedures. It flags up the fact that the procedures are quite a drastic step. The note says that actions taken under the clause may temporarily, but seriously, impinge on the human rights of any affected person. The note goes on to state that that can be justified when balanced against the risk to members' interests, but that the line needs to be trodden carefully. As the hon. Member for Eastbourne said, it would be helpful if the Committee could be told how often such a procedure might be required. Is there a parallel in the existing regulatory framework? If not, how new is this? For how long might the provisions apply in any particular case?