Pensions Bill

moved Amendment No. 30: "30: Clause 13, page 14, line 25, at end insert—""““( ) Following the period in subsection (1), the Secretary of State may by order vary the pensionable age for men and women in specific employments.””" The noble Baroness said: At Second Reading, I referred to the provisions in the Bill relating to theage of retirement. It is understandable that the Government should seek to deal with the projection that we are all likely to live very much longer. Therefore, pension provision on the present basis needs to be revised—the pension provision has of course to last that much longer. On the other hand, to increase the age at which retirement takes place for everyone is wrong. The TUC has already expressed concerns about that. I notice that it was raised in debate in the other place by MPs concerned about constituents working in physically demanding jobs. I referred to people working in the construction industry. MPs referred to employees in the fishing industry, again, a sometimes dangerous and physically demanding job where fitness may mean safety and where its absence could lead to danger and even death, not just to the employee concerned but to the others working with him. I hesitate to think of individuals in their mid-sixties working on scaffolding. I am aware that my amendment is not particularly well crafted, but I wanted to have some wording in the Bill which would enable exceptions to be made in certain industries. This relates not only to male employment, as many physically demanding jobs are undertaken by women which are much better done by those who are younger and more fit to do them—nursing disabled or elderly people is an occupation that comes to mind. I hope therefore that the Government will consider seriously what I am saying and perhaps will bring back another form of wording on this issue if mine is felt to be unsuitable. I beg to move.