I thank everyone who has contributed to the debate. I agree, of course, that it is a complicated matter but, on the other hand, the complications take place within the context of what is in the Bill. The Bill makes it clear that in future employers will have the right to change the provisions of pension contributions and benefits. That is what most of us are concerned about. I do not think that
the Minister’s response has dealt with the fear that people have that they are now facing a possibility that DB schemes could be under attack. They have been under attack in the past. Although I agree with everything that has been said about the necessity of involving trustees—of course I believe in that—when in the past employers have changed from a DB scheme to something less good, which has happened, the trustees have been consulted but have made no attempt to disrupt what the employer had intended to do. I therefore still do not think it is sufficient to say that the trustees have to be consulted. There has to be general consultation. The problem is, of course, that it is in the general context of the Bill, and the general context of this clause, which gives the employer power to change the benefits system through the DB scheme that may exist.
People are concerned about the continuation of their DB schemes. As I have said in the past, DB schemes which have been negotiated in the past have been responsible for improving benefits for a whole generation of pensioners. They want to continue with those schemes and to ensure that the unions to which most of them belong will have the right to ensure that negotiation will properly take place before anything can be done to remove those benefits that they all value so highly from them.
In those circumstances, while I have listened very carefully to what has been said, particularly to what the Minister has been saying this afternoon, I will look again at what he said. However, concerns still exist about Schedule 14 and the wording of this clause, and we shall certainly return to it on Report. Personally, I have not been satisfied with what I have heard and am quite certain that a number of other people will not be either. There has to be much more of a debate. Unfortunately, a number of our Members have left because we are running rather late tonight. A number of people who have tabled amendments have not had the opportunity to speak to them and so on. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.