Member

My noble friend Lord Davies asked a couple of specific questions, but before I answer them, I should declare an interest. The noble Viscount, Lord Thurso, mentioned that he is a trustee of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund. Rather more modestly, I am a member of the scheme and therefore I am very nice to him—tea and sympathy are the least I can offer him. I commend him for the work he does on behalf of all of us, and I thank him for it once more. My noble friend Lord Davies asked whether regulations under Clause 10 will be affirmative. They will be affirmative on first use and negative thereafter, so I look forward to a debate with my noble friend when the regulations come up for debate first time round. We will be consulting on them later in the spring, after Royal Assent.