Spending Review

Lord Marlesford Excerpts

Wednesday 26th June 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Deighton]

I of course accept that one of the consequences of lower interest rates is lower returns to savers. That absolutely follows on and it is a consequence in part of our current monetary policy, and indeed the monetary policy of every major nation. One compensating comment I would make is that of all the constituencies which this Government have striven to protect, looking at the triple-lock protection on pensions the basic state pension has clearly been kept in very good shape during this period of economic challenge.

[Lord Marlesford]

My Lords, the Chancellor said:

“EU law now says that people living in the European economic area can claim winter fuel payments from us, even if they did not get them before they left the UK”.

When on earth did that start and what are the Government doing to persuade the Europeans to change it? When the Chancellor suggests that he will deal with it by linking,

“the winter fuel payment to a temperature test”,

from 2015, what will that save? If it is worth doing it in 2015, why should he not do it in 2014, if not autumn 2013?

[Lord Deighton]

I thank my noble friend for pointing out this unfortunate anomaly in European legislation, which puts us in that position. The Chancellor’s position is that he has dealt with that anomaly in the best possible practical way to reduce that payment, given the timing of its introduction and the form of the obligation we have on us.