§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to establish a joint railway industry pension scheme, providing benefits no less favourable than the existing BR pension scheme, which BR staff employed on 5 November 1993(a) who continue to work in the railway industry and (b) who, following privatisation, leave the railway industry company in which they were first employed, will have a statutory right to join.
§ Mr. FreemanIt has long been Government policy to establish such a scheme, which will provide benefits no less favourable than the existing BR pension scheme to BR staff participating, or eligible to participate, in that scheme at 5 November 1993. Those staff will have an "indefeasible right" to remain in the joint industry scheme so long as they remain in continuous employment in the railway industry.