Labour Must Compensate Victorious Pensioners

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 21st Feb 2007

Commenting on the High Court's ruling that workers who lost their company pensions have won their High Court case against the Government today, Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield said:

"I am delighted that the High Court has ruled that the Government was wrong to completely reject the Parliamentary Ombudsman's report into collapsed pension schemes which found the Government guilty of maladministration.

"The Government has acted disgracefully in rejecting not only the Ombudsman's report, but also the European Court of Justice's judgement and the recommendations of the cross-party Public Administration Select Committee.

"The Government has been guilty of turning its back on those, such as employees at Dema Glass, Coalite and Chesterfield Cylinders, who have worked hard to save for security in their retirement but lost their pensions when their employers went bust.

"I have been fighting for compensation for these pensioners since 2001. Now the Government has been found guilty for the fourth time they must finally provide compensation for the victims of this gross pensions theft."