HL Deb 08 November 1999 vol 606 cc1154-5

.—(1) The Secretary to State shall by regulations make provision for one or more of the following—

  1. (a) to substitute, in any provision of the Contributions and Benefits Act which relates to additional pension for widows or widowers, for any sum payable by way of such pension as is derived from the contributions of a deceased spouse, such higher sum as may be prescribed;
  2. (b) to substitute, in any such provision, for any prescribed reference to the year 2000, a reference to such later year as may be prescribed;
  3. (c) to establish a scheme to compensate persons who are widowed after 5th April 2000 and who suffered loss as a result of any action or failure to act in reliance on incorrect information received from a Government department with respect to the reduction in the additional pension payable to them as a result of the enactment of the former section 19 of the Social Security Act 1986.

(2) If regulations under subsection (1) are not in force on 5th April 2000, then until such time as such regulations are in force, the provisions of the Contributions and Benefits Act to which paragraph (a) of that subsection apply shall continue to have effect as in force on that date.

(3) No regulations shall be made under subsection (1) unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.").

The Commons disagreed to this amendment but proposed the following amendments in lieu thereof—

1A Before Clause 48, insert the following new clause—

("Additional Pensions