§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) who will administer his temporary Maxwell pensioner rescue package;
(2) what information he has on the numbers of pensioners who could be assisted, and the amount to which they could be assisted, by his temporary Maxwell pensioner rescue package;
(3) what guidelines he will be giving to the administrators of his temporary Maxwell pensioner rescue package as to (a) the circumstances in which payments should be made and (b) the levels to be paid;
(4) if he will publish a telephone number where advice on claiming grants under his Maxwell pensioners emergency package can be obtained;
(5) when the first payments under his Maxwell pensioners emergency package will be made.
§ Miss WiddecombeMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 8 June the setting up of a special unit within the Department of Social Security and the establishment of a trust. Individual pensioners need take no action as funds will be made available directly to the independent trustees. Those funds are intended to assist Maxwell schemes that find themselves in difficulties. Funds will be used to protect the pensions of Headington pension scheme members, including the payment for May, to assist schemes that are unable to continue full payment of pensions and to allow schemes to commence payment of pensions to recently retired pensioners. Discussions have already been held with the independent trustees of the Headington pension scheme and we expect the first payments to be made soon.