§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the current position of existing and future pensioners of British International Helicopters; and what steps his Department is taking to help them.
§ Miss WiddecombeBritish International Helicopters Ltd. current and future pensioners are members of the Mirror Group pension scheme, which is being wound up and is unlikely to have sufficient assets to meet all its liabilities. The Government are keeping in close touch with trustees of all Maxwell pension schemes. The Government secure pensions to the level of the guaranteed minimum pension, and no pensioners will be worse off than they would have been had they stayed in the state earnings-related pensions scheme. If any pensioner experiences financial difficulty and is unsure about his or her state benefit entitlement, he or she should get in touch with the local social security office, which has been alerted to the difficulties these pensioners face.