§ 6. Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a further statement on the work of his Department's Maxwell pensions unit.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security (Mr. William Hague)The Maxwell pensions unit continues to work in a variety of ways to 637 encourage an early resolution to the Maxwell pensions dispute. A speedy settlement must be in everyone's best interests, especially those of the pensioners.
§ Mr. LidingtonAlthough I welcome the recent out-of-court settlements, what practical difference are they likely to make to the thousands of pensioners in, for example, staff and works schemes, who are still desperately anxious about their future?
§ Mr. HagueThe drip-feed funding from the Maxwell pensioners trust will last longer if some of the schemes are able to reduce their calls on the trust. To date, 60 per cent. of trust funding has gone to the Maxwell Communication Corporation works scheme. I hope that, in the light of the settlements, the scheme's trustees will be able to make a substantial reduction in their calls on the trust.