Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Shailesh Vara and Kelvin Hopkins

Monday 1st February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

5. What estimate he has made of the number of people who will receive a lower state pension under the single-tier pension.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr Shailesh Vara)]

Provided that people have at least 10 national insurance qualifying years, they will not receive a lower pension under the new state pension based on their own national insurance contributions than they would have already built up under the current system.

[Kelvin Hopkins]

The truth is that under the Government’s new pension system, substantial numbers of pensioners will lose money. Why did the Government turn their face against the obvious solution, which is to move to a much higher basic state pension, backed up by a compulsory state earnings-related scheme for all, with defined benefits?

[Mr Vara]

It is important that the hon. Gentleman appreciates that the new state pension is based on national insurance contributions. He will be aware that for many years many people have contracted out, and a small portion of their national insurance has gone towards a work pension or a private pension. If they add the new state pension to their other pension, which was paid for by national insurance contributions, they will find that in many cases they will be better off than they would be under the new state pension, which is £155.65.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Shailesh Vara and Kelvin Hopkins

Monday 2nd November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vara]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on her efforts in helping to spread the important message about this groundbreaking reform. I agree that small businesses need to advise their employees of the changes, which is why the Government have launched a new national communications campaign for small and micro-employers, as well as for individuals.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

Would it not be much more sensible, financially secure and efficient and beneficial to pensioners to establish a compulsory state earnings-related pensions scheme for all, with defined benefits, in place of the Government’s auto-enrolment scheme?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Shailesh Vara and Kelvin Hopkins

Tuesday 17th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vara]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and say to him that we do have one of the most generous legal aid budgets in the world and we have made sure that we provide legal aid assistance for those who need it.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

In a previous Question Time, I raised the problem of victims of domestic abuse apparently being deterred from going to law because of the cuts in legal aid. Has the Minister discussed the matter with representatives of the law authorities? Does he have any statistics to confirm these reports?

[Mr Vara]

We have paid particular attention to those who have been victims of domestic violence and we are very keen that, wherever possible, we will give legal aid to make sure that people get out of the abusive relationships in which they are caught.