48. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Aviation, in the writing-off of £110 million Government debt in respect of the British Overseas Airways Corporation deficits, how much is allocated towards deficits in the British Overseas Airways Corporation pension fund; how much to severance payments; and to what extent the British Overseas Airways Corporation pension fund is contributory by employees.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsSubject to legislation, the Government propose to make it possible for the Corporation to write off their past accumulated deficit. The sum to be written off makes no allowance for any advance provision for severance payments and for the deficit on the pension fund. Employees within the ambit of the fund contribute from 5 per cent. to 7½ per cent. of their salary (minus, in some cases, £100), depending on their grade.