Tax Credits (Income Thresholds and Determination of Rates) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

Lord Hughes of Woodside Excerpts

Monday 26th October 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Butler of Brockwell]

If the House of Commons asks for more information, it should be provided. But the constitutional position is that the House of Commons has passed this statutory instrument, and it cannot go back on that. Now what is at issue is whether the House of Lords should pass it, and however much sympathy the House may have for the objectives of those who have moved these amendments, it would be a constitutional infringement of great gravity to pass the first three of them. It would be wrong on three counts. First, this is a budgetary matter. It may be a welfare matter as well, but it is certainly a budgetary matter. Secondly, it is crucial to the fiscal policy that was explicit in the manifesto on which the Government were elected only a short time ago. Thirdly, the statutory instrument has been passed by the House of Commons, which has that responsibility in our constitutional arrangements. It has been passed not once but three times. I am afraid that I cannot find myself persuaded—

[Lord Hughes of Woodside (Lab)]

Would the noble Lord realise that he is turning his back and not addressing the House, and he should learn the procedures, given his experience?

[Lord Butler of Brockwell]

I am sorry, my Lords, and I apologise if I have committed a constitutional impropriety, but I still do not understand quite the point that the noble Lord makes.

I am afraid that I am not persuaded by the argument made by the noble Baroness that this House—

Armed Forces: Pension Scheme

Lord Hughes of Woodside Excerpts

Monday 22nd July 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Astor of Hever]

My Lords, my noble friend asks a very important question. The majority of service personnel make a successful transition to civilian life. All service leavers are entitled to some form of resettlement assistance. The Career Transition Partnership has proved successful in assisting service leavers to find work and a recent defence statistics survey shows that of the service leavers in 2011-12 who have a known employment outcome, around 85% are employed within six months of leaving the Armed Forces. Our resettlement arrangements are kept constantly under review to ensure the needs of service leavers are met.

[Lord Hughes of Woodside]

My Lords, did I hear the Minister correctly? Did he really say that, in making people redundant, no account was taken of the proximity of the retirement date and that only 1% were so affected? How can he have the bare face to come to this House and make a statement like that?

[Lord Astor of Hever]

My Lords, I did say that only 1.2% are affected. The redundancy schemes recognise those who miss out on immediate incomes by paying them significant enhanced tax-free redundancy compensation lump sums. Those who leave before the qualification point will get preserved pensions and further tax-free lump sums at the age of 60 or 65, depending on the pension scheme they are in. Armed Forces pensions remain among the most generous in the public or private sector. We recognise the unique role and sacrifice of the military, which is why the Armed Forces continue to benefit from non-contributory pension schemes.

Armed Forces: Autonomous Weapon Systems

Lord Hughes of Woodside Excerpts

Tuesday 26th March 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Astor of Hever]

My Lords, as I said in my response to the noble Lord, Lord Harris, the United Kingdom complies fully with its obligations under both national and international law.

[Lord Hughes of Woodside]

My Lords, in responding to my noble friend and to other noble Lords who have raised this Question, because it is so important will the Minister place copies of his answers in the Library?

[Lord Astor of Hever]

My Lords, yes, I will certainly do that.