Treasury and Work and Pensions

The hon. Gentleman needs to keep himself up to date. My right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) is not my flatmate— [Hon. Members: ““Oh!””] I do not therefore want to spend any more time dealing with that trivial point. Both my right hon. Friend and every Labour Member would recognise the contribution that tax credits have made to taking hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty. The pensions Bill will promote personal responsibility for dignity and security in old age; a simpler and more generous state pension, but one that continues to target resources on those most in need; a modern contributory principle that delivers fairer outcomes, especially for women and carers; a new delivery authority for a new system of personal accounts that will make it easier for more people to save; and yes, a higher state pension age that keeps the proportion of adult life spent receiving the state pension stable for each generation and helps to secure the long-term financial stability and sustainability of our pensions system. The Government will also place the restoration of the link to earnings at the heart of the new legislation. Rather surprisingly, the Opposition amendment regrets the absence of measures in the Gracious Speech to deal with pensions. I very much regret that the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge has put his name to such a motion. After all, he is the same hon. Member who stood at the Dispatch Box on the day we published the White Paper and said:"““The White Paper has been long awaited and will be widely welcomed.””—[Official Report, 25 May 2006; Vol. 446, c. 1653.]" He is the same hon. Member who described in the House, only a month later,"““the key elements of the White Paper, all of which we can enthusiastically support””— [Official Report, 27 June 2006; Vol. 448, c. 149.]" That cannot be the same hon. Member who put his name to this motion. Through the measures in the Queen’s Speech, the Government are taking the long-term decisions necessary to provide security and opportunity in a rapidly changing world. I propose that the House support the Government in the Lobby tonight. Question put, That the amendment be made:— The House divided: Ayes 229, Noes 294.