(7 years, 9 months ago)
Lords ChamberMy Lords, I believe the Lib Dems still want to make a contribution. Let us hear from the noble Baroness, Lady Smith.
(10 years, 8 months ago)
Lords ChamberAs this is manifestly a sordid plot from Saudi Arabia, would it not be more interesting if HMG had conversations with the Saudi Government about allowing women to drive cars in that country?
That question is not worthy of my noble friend. The noble Lord, Lord Wright, was trying to get in, as I had named him.
(13 years, 2 months ago)
Lords ChamberMy Lords, we must do that not only in this country but globally, because the problems of water and soil degradation are universal. We are mindful of this.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received on their plans for a single state pension with an estimated value of around £155 at current prices.
My Lords, the Government’s consultation paper, A State Pension for the 21st Century, published on 4 April 2011, sets out two high-level options for state pension reform. Following the consultation process, the Government will be considering all the responses to our options for delivering a simpler and fairer state pension. The media reports of a £155 a week pension are based on speculation of how much this single-tier state pension could be worth if it is introduced in the future. However, no decisions have been made on how to change the state pension system.
My Lords, I congratulate the coalition on this far-reaching decision, which will help many pensioners in the future at whatever level the figure starts. What specific mechanism will the Government deploy to ensure equal treatment between the existing recipients and the new entrants to the state pension at the commencement date?
My Lords, the reform is based on future pensions rather than on existing pensions. We will seek to protect existing pensioners during the period of transition, but the future reform depends on the consultation exercise, and the mechanisms that we will use will be those arising as a result of that.