§ Mr. AitkenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration he has given to the recent judgment of the European Court in Barberv. Guardian Royal Exchange; and if he will make a statement on the costs and other implications of implementing this decision.
§ Miss WiddecombeWe have been giving careful consideration to all the implications of this judgment and we are in close touch with the European Commission and other member states about it. There are, however, several aspects of the ruling which are unclear. To obtain clarification we have agreed in principle to support a case brought by the Coloroll group pension scheme trustees who are proposing to seek directions from the European Court on how their liabilities to members should be discharged, in the light of the Barber judgment.