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House of Commons

Session 2006 - 07
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

7

House of Commons

Tuesday 30th January 2007

Public Bill Committee Proceedings

Pensions Bill

[FIFTH and SIXth sittings]

Clause 5.

Another Amendment (No. 1) proposed, in page 5, to leave out lines 32 to 38.—(Mr

Nigel Waterson).

Question proposed, That the Amendment be made.

Withdrawn

Mr David Laws

Lorely Burt

Negatived on division  29

Clause  5,  page  5,  line  38,  at end insert ‘; or by a percentage not less than the

percentage by which the general level of prices is greater at the end of the period than it

was at the beginning, whichever is the higher.’.

Mr Nigel Waterson

Andrew Selous

Mr Mark Lancaster

Mr David Laws

Lorely Burt

Not called  2

Clause  5,  page  5,  leave out lines 39 to 41.

Mr David Laws

Lorely Burt

Not called  31

Clause  5,  page  5,  line  41,  at end insert—

‘(3A)
The general level of earnings shall be defined as the Average Earnings Index.

(3B)
The general level of prices shall be defined as the Retail Prices Index.’.

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 30th January 2007
8

Pensions Bill, continued

Mr Nigel Waterson

Andrew Selous

Mr Mark Lancaster

Not called  3

Clause  5,  page  5,  leave out lines 42 to 44.

Mr David Laws

Lorely Burt

Withdrawn  32

Clause  5,  page  6,  line  10,  leave out from ‘force’ to end of line 11 and insert ‘from

1st April 2008.’.

Mr Nigel Waterson

Andrew Selous

Mr Mark Lancaster

Negatived on division  4

Clause  5,  page  6,  line  13,  leave out from ‘shall’ to end of line 14 and insert

‘determine the general level of earnings as set out in subsections (8A) and (8B).

(8A)
If the average earnings index (including bonuses) for the whole economy for

September in any year is higher than the index for the previous September, the

Secretary of State shall as soon as practicable make an order in relation to each

sum mentioned in subsection (1), increasing each sum, if the new index is higher,

by the same percentage as the amount of the increase of the index.

(8B)
In making the calculation required by subsection (8A), the Secretary of State

shall, in the case of the sums set out in subsections (1)(a) to (1)(d) inclusive, round

up the result to the nearest 10 pence.’.

Mr David Laws

Lorely Burt

Not called  33

Clause  5,  page  6,  line  14,  leave out ‘he thinks fit’ and insert ‘may be approved by

resolution of each House of Parliament’.

Mr David Laws

Lorely Burt

Not selected  34

Clause  5,  page  6,  line  38,  leave out from ‘the’ to ‘(with’ in line 39 and insert ‘tax

year beginning 1st April 2008’.

Mr David Laws

Lorely Burt

Not called  35

Clause  5,  page  6,  line  43,  leave out ‘1st April 2011’ and insert ‘the first 1st April

after the first meeting of the next Parliament’.

Mr David Laws

Lorely Burt

Not called  36

Clause  5,  page  6,  line  44,  leave out subsections (5) to (7).

Mr David Laws

Lorely Burt

Not called  76

Clause  5,  page  6,  line  46,  leave out ‘the relevant dissolution date’ and insert ‘6th

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 30th January 2007
9

Pensions Bill, continued

April 2013’.

Mr David Laws

Lorely Burt

Not called  77

Clause  5,  page  7,  line  1,  leave out subsection (6).

Mr Nigel Waterson

Andrew Selous

Mr Mark Lancaster

Not called  5

Clause  5,  page  7,  line  3,  at end insert—

‘(6A)
The Secretary of State must, within six months of the beginning of the Parliament

referred to in subsection (6), inform Parliament by means of an oral statement of

the date at which the provision set out in this section could be afforded.’.

Mr Nigel Waterson

Andrew Selous

Mr Mark Lancaster

Negatived on division  78

Clause  5,  page  7,  line  3,  at end insert—

‘(6A)
The Secretary if State must, on or before 5th April 2009, announce his decision

as to the date from which he will implement the provision set out in this section.’.

Clause Agreed to.

Clauses 6 to 8 Agreed to.

James Purnell

Agreed to  88

Clause  9,  page  9,  line  17,  leave out ‘and section 44C below’.

Clause, as amended, Agreed to.

Ms Sally Keeble

Withdrawn  70

Clause  10,  page  11,  line  14,  leave out ‘40’ and insert ‘45’.

Ms Sally Keeble

Not called  71

Clause  10,  page  11,  leave out lines 15 and 16.

Ms Sally Keeble

Not called  72

Clause  10,  page  11,  line  31,  leave out ‘40’ and insert ‘45’.

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 30th January 2007
10

Pensions Bill, continued

Ms Sally Keeble

Not called  73

Clause  10,  page  11,  leave out lines 32 and 33.

Ms Sally Keeble

Not called  74

Clause  10,  page  12,  line  7,  leave out ‘40’ and insert ‘45’.

Ms Sally Keeble

Not called  75

Clause  10,  page  12,  leave out lines 8 and 9.

Mr David Laws

Lorely Burt

Withdrawn  64

Clause  10,  page  12,  line  15,  at end add—

‘(7)
The Secretary of State shall publish estimates, no later than 1st April 2008, of

how many people he expects to receive less than £135 a week in Basic State

Pension and Second State Pension combined in 2030 and 2050.’.

Clause Agreed to.

James Purnell

Agreed to  49

Clause  11,  page  12,  line  35,  at end insert ‘and

(c)
Part 3 contains consequential and related amendments.’.

Clause, as amended, Agreed to.

James Purnell

Agreed to  58

Schedule  2,  page  38,  line  13,  at end add—

‘Part 3

Consequential and related amendments

Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4)

3
In section 39 of the SSCBA (rate of widowed mother’s allowance and widow’s

pension) omit—

(a)
“and Schedule 4A” wherever occurring; and

(b)
subsection (3).

4    (1)
Section 39C of the SSCBA (rate of widowed parent’s allowance and

bereavement allowance) is amended as follows.

      (2)
In subsection (1) after “section 46(2)” insert “and (4)”.

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 30th January 2007
11

Pensions Bill, continued

      (3)
In subsection (3) in each of paragraphs (a) and (b) for “sections” substitute

“provisions”.

5    (1)
Section 44 of the SSCBA (Category A retirement pension) is amended as

follows.

      (2)
In subsection (5A) for “Schedule 4A” substitute “Schedules 4A and 4B”.

      (3)
In subsection (6) for “Schedule 4A” substitute “Schedule 4A or 4B”.

6
In section 46 of the SSCBA (modification of section 45 for calculating the

additional pension in certain benefits) after subsection (3) insert—

“(4)
For the purpose of determining the additional pension falling to be

calculated under section 45 above by virtue of section 39C(1) above in

a case where the deceased spouse or civil partner died under

pensionable age, section 45 has effect subject to the following

additional modifications—

(a)
the omission of subsection (2)(d), and

(b)
the omission in subsection (3A)(b) of the words ‘before the

flat rate introduction year’.”

7
In section 48A of the SSCBA (rate of Category B retirement pension for

married person or civil partner) in subsection (4) for “Schedule 4A” substitute

“Schedules 4A and 4B”.

8
In section 48B of the SSCBA (Category B retirement pension for surviving

spouse or civil partner) in subsection (2) for “Schedule 4A” substitute

“Schedules 4A and 4B”.

9
In section 48BB of the SSCBA (Category B retirement pension: entitlement by

reference to benefits under section 39A or 39B) in subsection (5)—

(a)
for “Schedule 4A” substitute “Schedules 4A and 4B”; and

(b)
for the words from “subject” to the end substitute “subject to section

46(3) above and to the following provisions of this section and the

modification in section 48C(4) below.”

10
In section 48C of the SSCBA (Category B retirement pension: general) in

subsection (4) for “Schedule 4A” substitute “Schedules 4A and 4B”.

11
In Schedule 4A to the SSCBA (additional pension) in paragraph 1(2) omit

“39(1),”.

Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48)

12
In section 42 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (review and alteration of rates

of contributions applicable under section 41) in subsection (1)(a)(ii) for

“Schedule 4A” substitute “Schedules 4A and 4B”.’.

Schedule, as amended, Agreed to.

James Purnell

Agreed to  50

Clause  12,  page  14,  line  4,  after ‘revoke’, insert ‘any provision of’.

Clause, as amended, Agreed to.

Clause 13 Agreed to.

Public Bill Committee Proceedings: 30th January 2007
12

Pensions Bill, continued

Schedule 3 Agreed to.

James Purnell

Agreed to  57

Schedule  1,  page  30,  line  5,  leave out paragraph 21.

Schedule, as amended, Agreed to.

[Adjourned till Thursday at 9.10 a.m.