§ Kevin BrennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent consultations he has had with the European Commission in relation to whether the Government are meeting their obligations to protect occupational pensions under Article 8 of the European Insolvency Directive 1980; and if he will make a statement. [145726]
§ Mr. PondWe have not had recent consultations with the European Commission in relation to Article 8 of the EU Insolvency Directive 80/897. However, we have recently sent the Director General for Employment and Social affairs at the European Commission information on the transposition of Article 8 of the EU Insolvency Directive 80/897 and Article 3(4) of Council Directive 2001/23/EC (TUPE).
We take our obligations under Article 8 of the Insolvency Directive seriously and we fully meet our obligations under the Directive, as successive Governments have done since it was adopted in 1980.
462WIn its report of 15 June 1995 on transposition of the Directive (COM(95)164), the European Commission concluded that United Kingdom legislation met the requirements of Article 8. This was further confirmed on 20 December 2002 by Mrs. Diamantopoulou, on behalf of the Commission, in response to a parliamentary question.