Saving Gateway Accounts Bill

Perhaps I may adapt the phrase: the noble Lady doth provoke too much. We are not about sneaking anything through—very far from it. We listened carefully to the expert advisers and the witnesses at the Commons Committee stage. As the noble Baroness has indicated and accepts at full value, we intend that people should have only one saving gateway account in their lifetime. It is in the draft regulations that we have published. It is our intent and the basis on which we are setting up this legislation. I know the noble Baroness agrees with that, because she has said so forcefully. She even suggested that the attempt by the Government to introduce an element of contingency for the long-distance future was sneaking something through. That is not so at all. We simply believe that there should be some flexibility on this point for the future, which is all that Clause 6(5) provides. It merely means that the position can be kept under review and that this or future Governments would be able to adapt the scheme without having to redraft and set up primary legislation. This can best be achieved by using the regulation-making powers under the Bill. As the Economic Secretary said in the other place, and I repeat today, this is merely contingency planning. We will set the scheme up on this basis. The principles behind the scheme are exactly as the noble Baroness has suggested; namely, that it is a kick-start and is meant to provide for one opportunity. But in drafting legislation of this import, we introduced this reserved position of flexibility for the distant future, which is the only reason for Clause 6(5). It is not at all to sneak anything through; it is quite the opposite. We agree with all the main principles that the noble Baroness has adumbrated in her short contribution. The only thing that I am objecting to is the suggestion that the Government would do anything else except respond full-square with the intent that this is a kick-start and one provision for a lifetime. Nevertheless, when drafting primary legislation, you do not close everything off for the distant future if by drafting the legislation carefully you leave some scope for future contingencies which we cannot foresee. That is the intention behind Clause 6(5).