Baroness Sherlock (Lab)

If all my noble friend wants to know is what he has asked me, I can write to him—this would save him the trouble of writing and save me the trouble of writing back to him—but, obviously, he is always entitled to do that. Finally, the National Insurance Fund is financed on a collective basis, with receipts collected in one year used to pay for certain benefit payments, including the state pension, paid out in the same year. I need to make it clear that, obviously, it is not accurate to suggest that there is a surplus in the fund that can be drawn on. The balance of the National Insurance Fund is managed as part of the Government’s overall management of public finances and reduces the need for them to borrow from elsewhere. Any additional spending from the National Insurance Fund would represent an increase in overall government spending. Without cuts in other areas of spend or additional taxes, it would therefore lead to an increase in government borrowing. I think I have answered most of the questions asked by noble Lords. The noble Baroness asked some specific questions about metrics. I am not sure that I have an answer to hand; if I have anything, I will certainly write to her. I am grateful, once again, for what is always an interesting debate. I love the fact that this Committee takes these matters so seriously; they truly affect the lives of so many people. I am grateful to noble Lords for their time and expertise.