Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 11 Feb 2016 Equitable Life
"My hon. Friend makes a very good point. That is, indeed, the tone of the pension package reforms that the Chancellor and the Treasury have made and will continue to introduce. The Equitable Life policyholders need to be part of that wider package...." Peter Heaton-Jones - View Speech
"I entirely agree. The Government have done a great deal to support savers and to support and encourage those who invest for the future, and have done a great deal for pensioners as well. That is undeniable. I hope that, as part of the package, there will be some movement …..." Peter Heaton-Jones - View Speech
"I take the hon. Gentleman’s point, but let me return to a point that I made earlier. He refers to the Treasury paying compensation. The Treasury has no money; it is all taxpayers’ money. We need to strike a careful balance. There must be fairness, not only to Equitable Life …..." Peter Heaton-Jones - View Speech
"That is a good point, and I do not think that it is wholly at odds with the point that I was seeking to make.
I shall not delay the House for much longer. We all recognise that Equitable Life policyholders have found themselves in an impossible position—and, again, I …..." Peter Heaton-Jones - View Speech
"Does the Minister agree that it is worth remembering that this matter has been outstanding not for one year or five years, but since the middle of the previous Labour Government, who failed to do anything about it? It is this Government who have taken effective action to collect these …..." Peter Heaton-Jones - View Speech
"On that point, I have been approached by members of the student union of Petroc College in Barnstaple in my constituency. I also had a very constructive meeting with them over the summer. The point that the Minister is making goes to the heart of their concern, which is that …..." Peter Heaton-Jones - View Speech
"I very much welcome the measures announced last week by the Chancellor to allow local government to keep receipts from business rates. My local authority, North Devon council, is one of the smaller ones so the receipts, actual and potential, will always be slightly less. Can my right hon. Friend …..." Peter Heaton-Jones - View Speech
"It was a pleasure to serve on the Public Bill Committee along with hon. Members from both sides of the House who I can see in the Chamber. I sat through many sittings of the Committee, listening intently to all that was said, and I simply fail to recognise a …..." Peter Heaton-Jones - View Speech
"Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. They do not want to hear the truth, that is the problem.
Our welfare reforms over the last Parliament, every one of which was designed with the aim of supporting those who are able to work in getting closer to employment, were undoubtedly part of …..." Peter Heaton-Jones - View Speech