Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Skelmersdale (Conservative). It was answered on Thursday, 23 March 2006.

Pensions: Ombudsman’s Report

Question: My Lords, have the Ministers in the department learnt nothing from the report? I am grateful to the Minister for the voluminous package of departmental pension guides that I received last night, following a request that I made during my response to the recent Statement. I observe that, in July 2001, one of the booklets stated:"““If your employer runs an occupational pension scheme, you should think carefully before deciding not to join it””." The word ““not”” was in heavy type. Would the Minister authorise the same words today? If not, what advice would he give to today’s pensioners?

Answer: My Lords, that seems to be very fair advice. The noble Lord will have noticed that each of the leaflets states in one way or another that it is general guidance only. The noble Lord could have quoted from a leaflet produced by his government, because the ombudsman’s report covers the period when his government were in office, following the passing of the Act that led to the minimum funding requirement. The limitations of the MFR and what it meant were made clear by the late Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish. I am afraid that it is difficult to conclude that the ombudsman is right.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 680 c354
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Department for Work and Pensions Department of Social Security Liability Leaflets Maladministration Workplace pensions Misrepresentation Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration Pension funds Pension rights
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk