HL Deb 18 October 2004 vol 665 cc206-10GC

"In Schedule 9 to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (regulated sector and supervisory authorities), for paragraph 4(1)(f) substitute— (f) the Pensions Regulator;".

On Question, amendments agreed to.

Schedule 12, as amended, agreed to.

Schedule 13 [Repeals and revocations]:

[Amendment No. 349V had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham moved Amendment No. 349W:

Page 313, line 18, second column, at beginning insert—

"Section 10(5)(ba) and the word "or" immediately preceding it."

The noble Baroness said: In moving Amendment No. 349W, I shall speak to the other amendments in the group. Again, these are minor technical amendments. I shall give one example of how minor and technical they are. Amendment No. 355D repeals paragraph 53 of Schedule 12 to the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999, which in turn amends Section 67 of the Pensions Act 1995. As we are now replacing the existing Section 67, paragraph 53 is no longer required. I could entertain the Committee with other such examples, but I hope it will accept this amendment and the others in the group.

As this is the last group of government amendments, perhaps I may respond to the kind and generous remarks made earlier by the noble Lords, Lord Higgins and Lord Oakeshott. This is recognised as possibly the most complex Bill brought forward from my department since the last Pensions Bill. It is certainly one of the longest and most technical. We have all at various stages been pressing at the edges of our knowledge.

I very much appreciate the constructive way in which the Committee has engaged in the Bill. It is partly as a result of pressure from the Committee that I have been able to get extra information and movement, such that many of the amendments we will be bring back on Report are in response to concerns and propositions raised from the Opposition Benches which were not perhaps necessarily at the forefront of the Government's mind when we started this process.

So, even before we have got to Third Reading, we have made very useful progress in Committee. It has been vigorous and rigorous and exhausting. Nevertheless we will go into Report—particularly when we see some of the government amendments in response—in much better shape.

Perhaps I may make a further offer. I know that I keep showering the Committee with paper but if, on reflection—apart from the memorandum on regulations, the memorandum on amendments, the memorandum on moral hazards and those issues I have agreed to follow up in writing—there are any other matters on which noble Lords would like more information, or, indeed, a meeting with officials before we come to Report, to test any of these issues, please let me know and I shall be delighted to arrange it. We have to get this Bill to have staying power, and staying power rests on prompt consent. Anything that I can do to expedite that or to enable it to happen, I shall be delighted to do it.

I thank the Committee again. I am delighted that we are finally moving to the last group of amendments.

Lord Skelmersdale

Apart from the noble Baroness, Lady Barker, I am the only person who has not spoken in this congratulatory mode. I thank the noble Baroness on behalf of the Official Opposition for what she has just said. I think I am right that she has repeated at various moments during the course of our several months long Committee stage that she and I share one thing in common—that is, that we tend on occasion to leap in with both feet. She usually knows where she is going to land; I often do not, as has been shown during the Committee.

But when she introduces a block of government amendments by referring to one in the middle of it, I think that even for both of us that is going a little too far. Do not her words prove the need for consolidation at some stage? I noted very carefully what she said earlier about that.

Baroness Barker

We on these Benches would very much like to take up the offer of the noble Baroness. We would be delighted to have a meeting about the financial assistance scheme before we get to the next stage.

On Question, amendment agreed to.

7 p.m.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham moved Amendments Nos. 349X to 350ZA:

Page 313, line 30, at end insert—

"In section 34(1)(a)(ii), the words "or category"."

Page 313, line 35, at end insert—

"In section 123, the definition of "occupational pension scheme" in subsection (3), and subsection (4)."

Page 313, line 35, at end insert—

"In section 129— (a) in subsection (2) the words from "and Chapter IV" to the end, and (b) subsection (3)(b)."

On Question, amendments agreed to.

[Amendment No. 350ZAA had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham moved Amendments Nos. 350ZAAA to 350AA:

Page 313, line 45, at end insert—

"In section 149(6)— (a) paragraph (c). and (b) the word "and" at the end of paragraph (k)."

Page 314, line 7, at end insert—

"In section 158— (a) in subsection (6), the words "Subject to subsection (7)", and (b) subsection (7)."

Page 314, line 9, leave out from "175" to "subsections" in line 10 and insert "—

(a) in subsection (1), paragraph (a) and the word "or" at the end of paragraph (b), and (b)"

Page 314, line 10, at end insert—

"In section 177(5)— (a) the word "and" at the end of paragraph (a), and (b) paragraph (b)."

Page 314, leave out lines 11 and 12 and insert—

"In section 18— (a) in subsection (1), the definitions of "the register", "the Registrar", and "voluntary contributions requirements", (b) in subsection (3), the words "section 6,", and (c) in subsection (4), the word "6,"."

Page 314, line 12, at end insert—

"In section 192(2), the words "section 6(1)and (2) (except paragraph (a)(ii)), (3), (4), and (8),"."

Page 314, line 26, leave out ""but"" and insert ""but if""

Page 314, line 41, at end insert—

"Section 41(2)(c)."

Page 314, line 46, at end insert "sub-paragraph (i) of"

Page 314, line 50, at end insert—

"In section 63(4)(c), the words "or category"."

Page 315, line 14, at end insert—

"In section 74– (a) in subsection (2) the words "(including increases in pensions)", (b) in subsection (4) the words "(including increases in pensions)", and (c) subsection (5)(b) and the word "or" immediately preceding it."

Page 315, line 34, after "124(1)" insert—

"—(a) in the definition of "employer", the words "or category", (b)"

On Question, amendments agreed to.

[Amendment No. 350B had been retabled as Amendment No. 350ZA.]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham moved Amendments Nos. 350BA to 351:

Page 315, line 37, at end insert—

"( ) in the definition of "pensionable service", the words "or category"."

Page 315, line 38, at end insert—

"Section 142(5)."

Page 315, leave out lines 41 and 42

Page 315, line 42, at end insert—

"In section 175(2), the word "or" at the end of paragraph (c)."

On Question, amendments agreed to.

[Amendment No. 352 had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham moved Amendments Nos. 352A and 352B:

Page 315, line 45, at end insert—

"In Schedule 3, paragraphs 12, 21, 23 and 44(a)(ii)."

Page 315, line 46, after "21" insert "(13) and"

On Question, amendments agreed to.

[Amendment No. 352C had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham moved Amendments Nos. 352BA to 354C:

Page 315, line 46, at end insert—

"In Schedule 5— (a) paragraph 20, and

(b) paragraph 77(b) (but not the word "and" immediately following it)."

Page 315, line 46, at end insert—

"In Schedule 6, paragraph 6(d)."

Page 315, line 46, at end insert—

"Employment Rights Act 1996 (c. 18) In section 58)3)(b), the words "or category"."

Page 315, line 46, at end insert—

"Criminal Procedure (Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 40) In Schedule 4, paragraph 98."

Page 316, line 3, at end insert—

"Section 17."

Page 316, line 3, at end insert—

"Section 38(1)."

Page 316, line 3, at end insert—

"In section 46(1), in the definition of "pensionable service", the words "or category"."

Page 316, line 7, leave out "and ", 11(3)(c)""

Page 316, line 8, at end insert—

"( ) in paragraph 1(2)(b)(iii), the words from "except" to the end,"

Page 316, line 9, leave out "(xii)" and insert "(xi) to (xiii)""

On Question, amendments agreed to.

[Amendment No. 355 had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham moved Amendments Nos. 355A to 356A:

Page 316, line 11, after "paragraphs" insert"3(1)(a),"

Page 316, line 11, leave out "15" and insert "16"

Page 316, line 12, after "paragraphs" insert "39(3),"

Page 316, line 12, after "49" insert ", 53"

Page 316, line 12, after "49" insert ", 55"

Page 316, line 19, after "(4)," insert—

"( ) paragraph 10, ( ) paragraph 11,"

On Question, amendments agreed to.

[Amendment No. 357 had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham moved Amendments Nos. 357A and 358:

Page 316, line 21, at end insert—

"Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) In Schedule 1, in Part 6 the entries for— (a) the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority, (b) the Pensions Compensation Board, and (c) the Registrar of Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes."

Page 316, line 22, at end insert—

"Employment Act 2002 (c. 22) In Schedule 6, paragraph 1(a) "and (b)."

On Question, amendments agreed to.

Schedule 13, as amended, agreed to.

Bill reported with amendments.

The Committee adjourned at four minutes past seven o'clock.