§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what consideration he has given to appointing a representative of pensioners, as stipulated in the Pensions Bill; [21834]
(2) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of his powers to ensure that interested parties are represented in the new authority stipulated in the Pensions Bill [Lords]. [21835]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThis answer is based upon the assumption that both these questions relate to the composition of the board of the new Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority. There is no stipulation in the Pensions Bill that a representative of pensioners should be appointed to the board. The membership of the board will be drawn from a wide range of interests, following the model adopted for the Occupational Pensions Board which has long enjoyed a reputation for integrity and impartiality.