Clause 52
Pensions Bill
1:45 pm
Danny Alexander (Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Work & Pensions; Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Liberal Democrat)
I beg to move amendment No. 154, in clause 52, page 25, line 26, leave out subsection (3) and insert—
‘(3) The Members’ Panel is to consist of such members and future members, or persons representing the interests of members and future members, as the trustees may appoint.
(3A) The trustees must appoint one of the members of the Members’ Panel to be the chairman of the Panel.
(3B) The trustees must secure that the membership of the Members’ Panel is such as to:
(a) give a fair degree of representation to members and future members; and
(b) respect diversity among members and future members of the scheme.
(3C) The chairman and other members of the Members’ Panel are to be—
(a) appointed for a fixed period, and on other terms and conditions, determined by the trustees, and
(b) paid by the trustees in accordance with provision made by or under the terms of appointment.
(3D) But a person may be removed from office in accordance with those terms and conditions only with the approval of the Secretary of State.
(3E) A person who ceases to be a chairman or another member of the Members’ Panel may be re-appointed.
(3F) Representations by the Members’ Panel—
(a) the Trustees must consider any representations made to it by the Members’ Panel.
(b) if the Trustees disagree with a view expressed, or proposal made, in the representations, it must give the Members’ Panel a notice to that effect stating its reasons for disagreeing.
(c) the Members’ Panel may publish such information as it thinks fit about any representations made by it to the trustees.
(d) where the Members’ Panel publishes information about any representations made by it, the trustees must publish any notice it gives under subsection (2) in respect of those representations.
(3G) Advice and research functions of the Members’ Panel—
(a) The Members’ Panel may, at the request of the trustees—
(i) carry out research for the trustees;
(ii) give advice to the trustees.
(b) The trustees must consider any advice given and the results of any research carried out under this section.
(c) the Members’ Panel may publish such information as it thinks fit about advice it gives, and about the results of research carried out by it, under this section.