Written question asked by Hilton Dawson (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 November 1997, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 December 1997. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Monday, 1 December 1997 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what action he intends to take in respect of Astra pensioners.

Answer: Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he intends to take in respect of Astra pensioners. [18537] Dr. Howells: Renewed investigations into the problems faced by former members of the Department over their pensions entitlements from the former Astra Training Services Ltd. following that organisation's collapse in 1993 have been going on in the Department for some time. The vast majority of Departmental staff who transferred to Astra had their previously-accrued Civil Service pensions values and benefits preserved in the Principal Civil Service Pensions Scheme. Pensions values due for their time with Astra are primarily for the liquidators of the former Company to resolve. We will be pressing the liquidators and the pension fund trustees to resolve this long-outstanding issue.

Secondary information