Pensions Bill
10:30 am
Witness
Tuesday 15th January
Until no later than 12 noon
Personal Accounts Delivery Authority
Tuesday 15th January
Until no later than 5.10 p.m.
Association of British Insurers; National Association of Pension Funds; Investment Management Association
Tuesday 15th January
Until no later than 6.40 p.m.
Trades Union Congress; Equality and Human Rights Commission; Which?; Age Concern; Help the Aged
Thursday 17th January
Until no later than 9.45 a.m.
Pensions Policy Institute
Thursday 17th January
Until no later than 10.25 a.m.
British Chambers of Commerce; Federation of Small Businesses
Thursday 17th January
Until no later than 2.10 p.m.
Engineering Employers Federation; Confederation of
British Industry; Association of Consulting Actuaries
Thursday 17th January
Until no later than 3.15 p.m.
Pensions Commission
Thursday 17th January
Until no later than 4.45 p.m.
Department of Work and Pensions
(3) the proceedings on consideration of the Bill in Committee shall be taken in the following order: Clauses 1 to 57; Schedule 1; Clauses 58 to 79; Schedule 2; Clause 80; Schedule 3; Clauses 81 to 90; Schedule 4; Clauses 91 to 94; Schedule 5; Clauses 95 and 96, Schedule 6; Clauses 97 and 98; Schedule 7; Clauses 99 to 108; Schedule 8; Clauses 109 to 111; new Clauses; new Schedules; remaining proceedings on the Bill;
(4) the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 26th February.
It is a delight to be here and to be under your chairmanship, Sir Nicholas. I am sure that we will make great progress with the Bill under your fair and firm chairmanship. We look forward to that and to getting the Bill through in good condition.
The programme motion gives us four sessions of oral evidence and enables those who have made submissions to answer questions, to set out their case and to raise their concerns. From the submissions that we have had about the Bill, we know that there is broad support. I am sure that the evidence sessions will enable us to hear that support and to hear people’s concerns.
Sir Nicholas, you referred to the timing of the start on Thursday 17 February. At the moment, the programme motion states 9.30 am, but we want to move to 9.00 am, because otherwise we will be sitting for about 15 minutes, which would not make much sense and would not give the witnesses much of an opportunity, either. That is the only area of the programme motion that I would wish to amend.
After the evidence sessions, we will have the opportunity to have a proper discussion about the detail of the Bill. The schedule of witnesses needs to be agreed, so I hope that my colleagues will be able to do that—there have been some informal discussions. The 18 discussion sessions will enable us to have clause-by-clause scrutiny, including a short break for half-term in February. I am sure that you and Janet Anderson, Sir Nicholas, will be able to lead us through the difficult parts. The Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Plaskitt), is going to assist me in handling the Government side of some of the amendments, particularly in part 3, which will enable us to deal with all those issues and in a full and proper manner.
There will be a new process with regard to Government amendments, which it is right for me to mention at this stage; a short letter to you and Janet Anderson, Sir Nicholas, informs you of that. We will be tabling a number of amendments, some in response to discussions but others to clarify parts of the Bill; we have already indicated some areas that we still have to amend. What we will be doing is setting out an explanatory statement with the amendment. That has not, broadly, been done in the past—it has been left to the Minister—but we will be providing an explanatory statement of the amendment and of its effect. With other amendments, we will ask if other members of the Committee wish to provide an explanatory statement to their amendments, so that the Committee can see a paragraph in writing. If the Committee members do not want to do that, my officials will contact them and see if they can be of help in drafting the clarification statement. That will enable us to have a greater understanding of the purposes of amendments and to help prepare any contributions colleagues might wish to make. During the course of the Bill, we will also be letting members of the Committee have fact sheets and some Keeling schedules setting out the effects of various amendments and how they will alter the text of the Bill, where that is appropriate.
I am sure that we will have a full and good debate according to the programme motion and under your chairmanship, Sir Nicholas. I look forward to that and to working with all my colleagues on the Committee.