Schedule 1
Pensions Bill
3:47 pm
Nigel Waterson (Shadow Minister, Work & Pensions; Eastbourne, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 54, in schedule 1, page 49, line 14, at end insert
‘of which at least three members shall be appointed to represent the interests of members and prospective members.’.
A series of amendments have been tabled to schedule 1. Some are on nuts and bolts issues—I am sure that we can dispose of those simply—while others relate to what I shall call the level playing field issue. We will deal with those in more detail with your indulgence, Mrs. Anderson.
Through amendment No. 54, we are saying that of the
“not fewer than 9 and not more than 15 members”
of the trustee corporation, at least three should be appointed specifically to represent the interests of members and prospective members. I anticipate that the Minister will say, “But they’re all meant to represent the interests of members and prospective members.” On one level, that is correct. However, it might be better to write into the Bill a specific requirement that at least three are appointed specifically for that purpose—perhaps from among the kind of people who might otherwise have become members of the members’ panel. I am sure that that will appeal to the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, given his near obsession with that issue.