HC Deb 19 October 1998 vol 317 c904W
Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much has been spent in legal fees, to date, from public funds, in respect of the case of the Bus Employees Superannuation Trust(a) in defending the case of the Department of Transport and (b) by the Official Solicitor, and others, facilitating and supporting the case of the Trustees. [55603]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The then Secretary of State announced on 27 November 1996,Official Report, columns 271–72, that the Department was prepared to meet the legal costs of the NBC pension trustees, in order to pursue litigation in respect of the Bus Employees Superannuation Trust. Expenditure to date on meeting the legal, actuarial, and other costs of the litigation on the Bus Employees Superannuation Trust and the closely related litigation on the National Bus Pension Fund is as follows:

  1. (a) DETR costs: £131,000
  2. (b) NBC pension trustees (reimbursed by this Department through the Official Solicitor): £415,000

This expenditure represents 0.5 per cent. of the original NBC pensions surplus (after tax) of £122 million.