Release announcing that victims of scheme wind-ups are being forced to go back to the High Court to Judicially Review the Government’s recent budget announcements of extensions to the Financial Assistance Scheme which do not comply with the High Court ruling in the first JR.
Ros’ comments on extracts from Hansard showing the answers given by Tony Blair to questions from David Cameron which called for improvements to the FAS, asked for a Treasury emergency loan to be given to help his constituent who has leukaemia, is 68 and has had no pension and no FAS.
Letter sent to Mick Leahy asking him to lend his union’s support to the amendments to the Pensions Bill which would ensure higher and faster payments to victims of pension scheme wind-ups, also explaining why these amendments are so important.
Article published in Money Marketing explaining why the extension to the FAS that the Chancellor announced in the Budget was not all it appears to be and will not deliver a fair solution at all.
Article published in Financial Adviser which explains that the recently announced extension to the Financial Assistance Scheme is not worth £8bn at all, but the real cost of the FAS is just £1.9bn, which will be further reduced once tax and benefits are accounted for. The Chancellor had an opportunity to provide a fair solution but opted for more spin instead.
Press Release explaining that the extension to the FAS announced in the Budget is not all it seems.
Ros’ initial reaction to revelations about the advice given to Gordon Brown in 1997 ahead of his decision to remove dividend tax relief from pension funds, explaining that the decision was irresponsible.
Opinion Piece published in PMI Magazine explaining that the Government has been found guilty in the Judicial Review and asking PMI members to support the Parliamentary moves for compensation.
Article published by Global Pensions Magazine explaining that the Government has been found guilty of behaving unlawfully and irrationally when rejecting the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s report and refusing to accept maladministration..
Briefing note for MPs explaining that the costs of full compensation would be tiny in terms of Government expenditure each year, that the taxpayer could easily afford this, but that other sources of funds are available too if the Government wishes to find them.