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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Court battle over pensions starts | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Four people who have lost their pensions are in the High Court suing the government for compensation. | |
| They are trying to get the government to compensate people who lost pensions when their workplace schemes wound-up. | They are trying to get the government to compensate people who lost pensions when their workplace schemes wound-up. |
| In a report last March, the Parliamentary Ombudsman criticised the government over its handling of the workplace pension system. | In a report last March, the Parliamentary Ombudsman criticised the government over its handling of the workplace pension system. |
| If the court rules in favour of the four, the government could have to pay out hundreds of millions of pounds. | If the court rules in favour of the four, the government could have to pay out hundreds of millions of pounds. |
| If the four lose their case they could face having to pay government costs, estimated at £125,000. | If the four lose their case they could face having to pay government costs, estimated at £125,000. |
| THE LOST PENSIONS 85,000 people were affected 400 schemes closed with deficitsThey were shut between 1997 and 2005Only limited compensation is available from the Financial Assistance SchemeThe Pension Protection Fund only covers schemes from April 2005 Plaintiffs explain why they are going to court | THE LOST PENSIONS 85,000 people were affected 400 schemes closed with deficitsThey were shut between 1997 and 2005Only limited compensation is available from the Financial Assistance SchemeThe Pension Protection Fund only covers schemes from April 2005 Plaintiffs explain why they are going to court |
| The judicial review, which started on Wednesday morning, is expected to last two days and it is likely that judgement in the case will be held over for a month. | |
| Ombudsman report | Ombudsman report |
| The pensioners want the court to decide whether the government was right to disregard the findings of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's report. | The pensioners want the court to decide whether the government was right to disregard the findings of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's report. |
| In essence, the Ombudsman called on the government to compensate people who had lost their pensions when their schemes went bust. | In essence, the Ombudsman called on the government to compensate people who had lost their pensions when their schemes went bust. |
| An estimated 85,000 workers lost all or part of their pensions when their schemes collapsed. | An estimated 85,000 workers lost all or part of their pensions when their schemes collapsed. |
| This happened when there was not enough money in the schemes to pay members their benefits. | This happened when there was not enough money in the schemes to pay members their benefits. |
| The Ombudsman concluded that government's pension advice was "sometimes inaccurate, often incomplete, largely inconsistent and therefore potentially misleading". | The Ombudsman concluded that government's pension advice was "sometimes inaccurate, often incomplete, largely inconsistent and therefore potentially misleading". |
| The department was asked to waive the right to seek costs in advance - it is our long established practice not to do this, Department for Work and Pensions spokesman | The department was asked to waive the right to seek costs in advance - it is our long established practice not to do this, Department for Work and Pensions spokesman |
| Campaigners have criticised the government for refusing to say whether it will pursue the plaintiffs for costs should they win. | |
| Three of the four could be left with a massive legal bill if they lose. | Three of the four could be left with a massive legal bill if they lose. |
| One is on legal aid, so will not be hit with case costs. | One is on legal aid, so will not be hit with case costs. |
| "It is very worrying. If we lose, we would have to look at the assets we have, in my case that is my home," said Tom Waugh, who lost two-thirds of his pension when his workplace scheme went bust. | "It is very worrying. If we lose, we would have to look at the assets we have, in my case that is my home," said Tom Waugh, who lost two-thirds of his pension when his workplace scheme went bust. |
| Mr Waugh and his fellow plaintiffs want the government to agree to waive costs. | Mr Waugh and his fellow plaintiffs want the government to agree to waive costs. |
| "The department was asked to waive the right to seek costs in advance - it is our long established practice not to do this," a Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said. | "The department was asked to waive the right to seek costs in advance - it is our long established practice not to do this," a Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said. |
| "We do not wish to make an open-ended commitment on taxpayers' money at this stage. We will, of course, consider our position at the end of proceedings," he added. | "We do not wish to make an open-ended commitment on taxpayers' money at this stage. We will, of course, consider our position at the end of proceedings," he added. |