Safeguarded rights were introduced for contracted-out benefits—derived from the national insurance rebate—to protect public funds. Therefore, safeguarded rights were created to protect the national insurance rebate when contracted-out rights were shared between the parties to a marriage or a civil partnership. They were broadly intended to reflect contracted-out rights and to ensure that those rights were securely protected and used for their intended purpose, that is to provide an income in retirement.  When they were introduced it was thought that they provided additional protection to pension credit members, but since they do not require a minimum level of payment that is not in fact the case. They were introduced for good reasons but have proved to be unnecessarily bureaucratic and that is why we brought forward the proposal to abolish them. I am pleased that the hon. Gentleman supports that and I hope that it will therefore become part of the Bill.