§ Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
§ Mr. BlairI wish merely to raise a query that has been put to me. I understand that the purpose of the clause is to ensure that if a pension fund makes a payment that it should not make and the payment is therefore unathorised, there will he a tax on the payment. In other words, tax relief will be lost. It would seem that this is a method of ensuring that there is compliance with the rules that involves placing a penalty on pension funds that pay out when they should not do so. I am sure that this is a negligible or rare practice, but I shall be grateful for the Minister's confirmation.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThat is correct.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Clause 44 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
§ Clauses 45 to 51 ordered to stand part of the Bill.