Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Thérèse Coffey Excerpts
Tuesday 29th January 2013

(11 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. We are obliged to the Minister, but we will move on to one more question.

Thérèse Coffey Portrait Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con)
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16. What progress has been made in making compensation payments under the Equitable Life payment scheme.

Sajid Javid Portrait The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Sajid Javid)
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The scheme continues to make good progress. A detailed report will be published next week, which I am pleased to announce will highlight the fact that the scheme has paid more than £500 million to policyholders. I know that the resolution of Equitable Life is an issue that interests many Members, so I can announce that the scheme will now be moving to quarterly progress reports, with the next one published in May.

Thérèse Coffey Portrait Dr Coffey
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I welcome that answer from my hon. Friend. I am proud that our Government have started the payment scheme, although there are still some people who have not yet been assessed. I would encourage him to work with his officials to ensure that that happens as quickly as possible.

Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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My hon. Friend is right to be proud of the Government’s achievements on Equitable Life. The previous Government had a decade to help victims of this scandal and did absolutely nothing. As mentioned, more than £500 million of payments have already been made. I can assure my hon. Friend that I am in regular contact with the scheme administrators, and I will work closely with them on a regular basis to ensure that things can be improved.