ASW Pensions Saga Has No Effect On Government Leaflet Regime

12.00.00am GMT Tue 23rd Jan 2007

Commenting on today's report from the Public Accounts Committee on the Department of Work and Pensions regime for the communicating with the public through leaflets, Jenny Willott, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, said:

"It is deeply worrying that the system for checking the accuracy of information supplied in Government leaflets about pensions and benefits is still failing. Less than half of the leaflets that are supposed to be checked for accuracy actually are.

"Misinformation contained in Government leaflets was one of the key culprits behind the Occupational Pensions saga. People like former Allied Steel and Wire workers, who received them were led to believe that their pensions would be absolutely safe. The reality turned out to entirely different leaving over a hundred thousand people with little or none of their hard earned pension whatsoever.

"The Department of Work and Pensions assured MPs that it would tighten up on the checking of leaflets, but clearly this isn't happening. This must be sorted out very quickly and I will be writing to John Hutton to ensure that he investigates."