Member

Let me finish here, as time is against me, and come back to my main argument. If we can face up to the reality of our financial predicament and if we can take the difficult but necessary decisions to stabilise our economy, we can start to bring about the change our country needs. If we can unlock growth, we can rebuild our public services, we can tackle poverty, we can spread opportunity and we can deliver the dignity and security in retirement that pensioners deserve. I have tried really hard to listen to concerns, I have had open meetings with Peers and I have had conversations with many noble Lords. I have listened and tried to answer every single concern I have heard tonight—if I have missed one, please come and grab me afterwards, but I have really tried. I hope I have made it clear: this was not an easy decision, and it was not one taken lightly. Since I have tried to answer all the points given here, and those raised by the SLSC, and given that the instrument was extensively debated yesterday in the elected House and that it was overwhelmingly carried, I urge noble Lords not to support any of the Motions.