COMMONS AMENDMENTS (Hansard, 12 July 1995)

§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 239 to 243. At the same time I wish to speak also to Amendments Nos. 370 and 371. This group contains amendments which, I hope your Lordships will agree, improve the provisions for the pensions ombudsman. Amendment No. 241 will allow rules to be made providing for the ombudsman to pay travelling and other allowances to individuals when they are invited to attend oral hearings. Amendment No. 242 replaces the reference to the trustees or managers of an occupational or personal pension scheme with a reference to those responsible for the management of the scheme. This brings Clause 144 into line with the changes made by Clause 141 to the ombudsman provisions in Section 146 of the Pension Schemes Act. It will ensure that the ombudsman can include interest in any direction he makes involving late payment of benefits.
Amendment No. 243 removes the power to make regulations to specify the period for which interest should be awarded. The ombudsman is best able to decide the period for which interest should be paid. This amendment will ensure that he has discretion to do so.
1769 Amendment No. 371 will simplify the procedures in Scotland by which a complainant can enforce a determination of the pensions ombudsman. It will ensure that the enforcement procedures in Scotland are as simple and as straightforward as those already provided for in England and Wales. Although these may seem to he comparatively minor amendments, they are nevertheless useful.
This may be the last time that I shall be on my feet this afternoon on the Pensions Bill. Perhaps I may thank all those noble Lords who have taken a close interest in the Bill, especially for their co-operation this afternoon in moving all the Commons amendments. Although we disagree on one or two parts of the Bill, by and large I think your Lordships will agree that we are giving to the pensions world a much improved situation for looking after the position of all those people who have made pension provision for their retirement. In addition, there are the other matters we have dealt with, such as the war widow's pension. I hope that those of your Lordships who are, as I have described you before, the "season ticket holders" feel that the season ticket has been well worth it. Perhaps I may say that after today the season ticket can be returned. I beg to move.

§ Baroness Hollis of Heigham
My Lords, obviously we have no objection to these amendments. They are among the very many that we welcome. On behalf of these Benches we thank the Minister for the clarity with which he was able to take us through the very extensive business today. Obviously, we regret that in some areas he has been unable to go as far as we would wish. We are sorry about the SERPS amendment, which has tarnished somewhat the nature of the Bill which, for the most part, we welcome. As regards the return of the season ticket, my noble friend Lord Macaulay asks what arrangements is the Minister proposing to make for Friday when we have a rail strike?

§ Baroness Seear
My Lords, I pay tribute to the Minister for his determination and staying power. He has had three absolutely appalling Bills to put through this House. There are still some to come. He has had business piled on him pretty heavily. We appreciate his staying power and good temper. There are changes in the Bill which we very much welcome. We would have liked to have had others, but no doubt they will come in the future.

§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
My Lords, I am grateful to both Baronesses. While of course I admire my own staying power, I equally admire the staying power of the noble Baronesses, Lady Hollis and Lady Seear; especially that of the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis. She has burned the midnight oil with me on this Bill as indeed on the others. Therefore, I believe that the plaudits about my stamina should be widened to include others in your Lordships' House.