Commons Committee update
Two posts ago I talked about Commons Committee progress and promised to update you. Well, we finished Committee last Thursday and I’m delighted with the way it’s gone. I mentioned in my earlier posting the constructive atmosphere within the Committee, and happily that trend continued throughout.
We’ve covered a lot of ground in the last three weeks – including uprating the basic State Pension by earnings, simplifying the State Second Pension, changes to the State Pension age, private pensions simplification measures and the delivery authority for personal accounts. Many of these subjects will be familiar to long time readers of the blog – I’ve included a link to the Hansard transcript for those of you wishing to see exactly what was said.
The next stage for the Bill is the Commons Report. This is a further opportunity for amendments to the Bill to be considered – it takes the form of a one-off debate, usually on the floor of the House of Commons. We don’t yet know when this will be but I will again keep you updated.
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This entry was posted on Monday, February 12th, 2007 at 4:49 PM by James Purnell and categorized in General posts.
Phil Wilson wrote:
Question-
Who will contribute the employers portion to an agency workers pension, will it be the end user or the agency?
If it is the agency, then what is there to stop them refusing to place an agency worker with an end user if the worker refuses to opt out?
Posted on 13-Feb-07 at 8:57 am | Permalink
linda sumpner wrote:
I understand that the proposed new pension white paper says that people due to retire after April 2010 will not need as many years contributions to qualify for a state pension ( 30 years). I am due to retire December 2009 when I reach 60. I have quite a substantial shortfall of contributions as I only work part time. If I decide NOT to claim my state pension until AFTER April 2010, do I qualify for a state pension without having to make up as much shortfall in contributions as I would have to, if I retired in December 2009. linda
Posted on 13-Feb-07 at 5:06 pm | Permalink
Ian Thomas wrote:
I, like many others in Africa, plan to retire in Africa. I believe our pension, unlike the US, will not be adjusted for increases. With the amount of aid provided would a direct injection not be better? Pension reform provides the ideal time.
Posted on 14-Feb-07 at 11:04 am | Permalink
Ron McCartan wrote:
I note that the new pensions reform includes uprating the basic state pension to link with earnings in 2012. Currently, the basic state pension is one of the poorest in Western Europe. I am above the threshold for pension credits but have contibuted 40+ years including 6 years army service to the country. I have prepared for retirement and now find my savings disappearing fast under the present taxation burdon from both central and local government. This is more frustrating when I note that much of the nations wealth is being invested in support for many who have contribute little or will ever contribute to the nations economy. There appears to be little payback to the nation in terms of improved quality of life for all or improved social cohesion. I also note that the pensions of members of parliament are index linked! Finally, I would point out that there is a growing discontent amongst pensioners like myself who are neither wealthy nor poor but who are being squeezed by the current system and lack of concern shown by the Labour Government. I would also note that I am a lifelong Labour supporter an am currently re-evaluating my political allegience because of the government’s reluctance to link the basic pension to earnings in the near future.
Ron McCartan (age 68)
Posted on 14-Feb-07 at 2:50 pm | Permalink
Sylvia Clark wrote:
Trying to digest some of the material within the bill my interpretation for future HRP allowance is that only 12 years will be allowed as opposed to the current 14 that I have, am I correct?
Sylvia
Posted on 16-Feb-07 at 12:41 pm | Permalink
Jules Angel wrote:
What is the timeline for this bill to become law? I know there could be holdups for various reasons, but given the so far smooth sailing, what is the best case scenario? I ask as there are a number of dealines for buying back years that fall in April this year. The info I got with my buy back scheudule suggests waiting to see instead of paying straight away. But paying after a dealine means penalties too.
Posted on 21-Feb-07 at 2:27 am | Permalink
Roger Sherrington wrote:
My wife will be 60 before the 6th April 2010 and has paid voluntary NI contributions for a number of years. She has more than 30 qualifying years already and will start taking her pension in March 2008. Will her reduced pension of £65 paid from 2008 be raised to a full pension in April 2010 or will she forever be discriminated against , at a cost of C £23000 due to her age !!
Posted on 21-Feb-07 at 5:16 pm | Permalink
P Doughty wrote:
When are we likely to be able to make calculations based on the new proposed pensions provisions and therefore realistic planning for the future, for those retiring after April 2010? Are the auto years to be scrapped for those retiring between 60-65?
Posted on 12-Mar-07 at 11:57 am | Permalink