§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government will refund to the Bus Pension Fund of the former National Bus Company the pension surplus withheld at the time of privatisation; if payment of funds will be made so that bus company pensioners can be paid without further delay; and if compensation will be paid to the families of those bus company pensioners who have died since privatisation. [55796]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonDiscussions with the NBC pension trustees have already begun with the aim of reaching as quickly as possible, a just, out-of-court settlement of the trustees' claim for return of the surplus. If a settlement is achieved, which the Government very much hope will be the case, it will be for the trustees to decide how the moneys paid pursuant to that settlement should be distributed among all eligible beneficiaries.