Pensions Bill

I want to make a few brief points. Looking at the ePolitix briefing for the debate, I see that it lists all those who contributed on Second Reading and notes that I was the only one who voiced any real concerns about the Bill. Some of those concerns remain. There have been improvements, and I genuinely welcome what the Minister said today about those who are the victims of solvent employer pension schemes that have been wound up. I hope that that will help my constituents in the J & D Wilkie scheme in Kirriemuir to which I referred earlier. It is a regret that we did not have today the exact wording of the Minister’s proposals. That would have been useful because we could all have gone away a little more certain about what is to be done. I share many of the reservations of the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) and voiced similar concerns on Second Reading. One thing about which I am seriously concerned is the raising of the state pension age. I appreciate that that is some years away, but there are grave difficulties with the proposal because of the use of averages. As I said on Second Reading, the difference in life expectancy between and within areas means that there is a danger that many people will never get the benefit of their pension. In Glasgow, for example, many people have a life expectancy of less than 70 years. There has been much debate about the reasons for that and the improvements in health and housing that may make a difference. However, there are still huge discrepancies in life expectancy in different parts of the country and even within areas, and that will prove problematic in future. If, as the pension age increases, it turns out that many people are not getting the benefit of their pension, that problem will come back and hit us. This is a curate’s egg of a Bill. There are bits that I can wholeheartedly support. There are bits about which I have grave concerns. I will not oppose it, obviously, but my concerns remain. I look forward to seeing what happens when the Bill goes to another place. It leaves here slightly improved, but still with measures that cause concern.