New Clause 2 — Trusts relating to divorce, life protection policies and disabled persons

Part of Finance (No. 2) Bill [Ways and Means] – in the House of Commons at 5:45 pm on 4 July 2006.

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Photo of Dawn Primarolo Dawn Primarolo Paymaster General (HM Treasury) 5:45, 4 July 2006

If the hon. Lady will let me make this point, I will give way to her. I have already said that.

That list includes organisations such as the Association of Directors of Social Services, the Royal College of Nursing, the Parents Autism Campaign for Education, the National Children's Bureau, Children in Scotland, and the Children's Trust. It also included the National Autistic Society, which I understand has since developed its view and now has a slightly different view, and is, along with Mind and the Parkinson's Disease Society, a signatory to a letter saying that its views have moved on. But the rest have not. I have repeatedly asked my officials whether the Department has had formal representations on this matter. Apart from the circular to members of the Committee, I cannot find any reference to these organisations wanting to come back again on this.

The point here is that this is a difficult area and it will always be. When any Government settle on a definition, they do so after consultation and understanding what the majority have said, and, in fairness, reflecting in their response where a different view was taken and why.

I said that I would give way to the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne and then I will give way to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet.