§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the date prior to privatisation when the pensioners' trustees meeting agreed to pension surpluses being used to subsidise the building of ships by the new owners of Harland and Wolff; if he will publish the information on which this decision was based; whether a similar scheme has been considered with the122W privatisation of NIE; and what rights have previous members of the scheme who object to the course of action taken.
§ Mr. NeedhamPension fund moneys have never been used by the new owners of Harland and Wolff to subsidise the building of ships. The pension fund scheme remains unaffected by the privatisation arrangements and members continue to have the right to take up any relevant issues with the trustees. In relation to the Northern Ireland Electricity superannuation scheme, its committee of management and trustees have been given an assurance by the Government that pension scheme surplus will not be prejudiced by the privatisation process.