Muslim Brotherhood

Debate between Lord Taylor of Holbeach and Lord Dykes

Tuesday 8th April 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Wright of Richmond]

My Lords—

[Lord Dykes (LD)]

As 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?

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

That question is not worthy of my noble friend. The noble Lord, Lord Wright, was trying to get in, as I had named him.

Defra: Research and Development

Debate between Lord Taylor of Holbeach and Lord Dykes

Thursday 20th October 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

My 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.

[Lord Dykes]

My Lords—

Pensions

Debate between Lord Taylor of Holbeach and Lord Dykes

Thursday 5th May 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Dykes]

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.

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

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.

[Lord Dykes]

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?

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

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.