Gregg McClymont: The Minister raced through his text, much to the chagrin of the whole House I am sure, as we were enjoying it so much. Let me pick up on a couple of issues. We are dealing with the part of the Bill that has created some complexities because, to put it politely, it dovetails with the 2014 Act. If we were being less kind, we would say that some tensions are created because we cannot examine...
Gregg McClymont: I thank the Minister for his explanation of amendment 1 and those with which it is grouped. Let me make a number of points. There are two parts of this Bill, and we will come to the second part regarding the way it interacts with the pension budget flexibilities announced in last year’s Budget in a moment. I would like to put on record my thanks to the other place and particularly those on...
Gregg McClymont: I was referring to clause 8, to which the Minister has also referred, as well as referring to that part of the Bill more widely where it pertains to governance. I am sure that the Minister will be weary of the debates that we have had on these issues, and that he will be keen to set out his current thinking on this aspect of the Bill. He will be aware that this issue is central to his...
Gregg McClymont: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many agents offering guidance through the Pensions Wise scheme will be based outside London.
Gregg McClymont: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the capacity within the citizens advice network to deal with Pensions Wise enquiries.
Gregg McClymont: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, where the agents offering guidance through the Pensions Wise scheme will be based.
Gregg McClymont: It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. I congratulate the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Gordon Henderson) on bringing the issue of FAS pensions to the attention of the House once again. As the hon. Gentleman set out eloquently, this has been a burning issue for some time. He made it clear that the Pensions Action Group will continue to campaign to see...
Gregg McClymont: No one can doubt the attention that Community has paid to making that case for its members, who suffered great detriment as a result of the collapse of these pension schemes. I know from the discussions that I have had that there was a strong sense that there would be further action, given the promises made by the parties that are now in government. Actually, given the current situation, the...
Gregg McClymont: That is the difference between what a responsible Opposition do and what appears to have happened before 2010.
Gregg McClymont: The Minister says it is just words, but the words that those campaigning for the parties that are now in government used have not materialised into any action. The difference between the Government parties and Labour is not only that the previous Government actually acted, but that we are a responsible Opposition and we will not promise things that we do not intend to deliver.
Gregg McClymont: Yes. We are dealing with individual workers’ lives, and it is incumbent on political parties not to promise things in their search for votes that they do not intend to deliver. That is the big difference between the Government and the Opposition. I have met a number of times with the pensioners affected by this issue, and the impact on people’s lives is enormous. The previous Government...
Gregg McClymont: Yes, and I want to finish by paying tribute to the campaigns run by the Pensions Action Group and the trade unions. Through those campaigns, this issue has remained near the top of the pensions agenda. I repeatedly receive submissions on it and that repeatedly results in conversations and dialogue with the various parts of the campaign. In my understanding, and from meetings with the...
Gregg McClymont: The extensive income tax powers that are to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament will give Scotland the opportunity to make different decisions on taxation. The Scottish Labour party is committed to restoring the 50p rate of income tax for those earning more than £150,000 a year. Will the Minister join the Scottish Labour party in supporting that policy, putting some clear blue water...
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people (a) were eligible for and (b) participated in the Work Programme in Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East constituency in each month since October 2012.
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the number of people who will reach state pension age within 12 months from the start of the single tier pension who will be eligible to receive state pension at the full rate; and what proportion of the total number of recipients those people will be.
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) women and (b) men who will reach state pension age within 12 months from the start of the single tier pension who will be eligible to receive state pension at the full rate.
Gregg McClymont: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what training agents offering guidance through the Pensions Wise scheme will be given before dealing with enquiries; and if he will make a statement.
Gregg McClymont: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the number of people who will seek to use the Pensions Wise service in the financial year 2015-16.
Gregg McClymont: If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 14 January.
Gregg McClymont: Given the damaging uncertainty over future investment in jobs that the Prime Minister’s EU renegotiation strategy is creating in the business community, will the Prime Minister today give a guarantee that he will not support an out vote in any future in/out EU referendum?