Cautious welcome

HUGH ROBERTSON GIVES CAUTIOUS WELCOME TO ANNOUNCEMENT ON ALBERT FISHER PENSION SCHEME

Hugh Robertson today gave a cautious welcome to a Department of Work and Pensions announcement about the Albert Fisher Pension Scheme. There are a number of people living in the Faversham, Whitstable and Canterbury area who are members of this scheme which was wound up three years ago.

The Departmental statement laid out the terms of the new Financial Assistance Scheme introduced under last year’s Pensions Bill. Albert Fisher is named as a qualifying scheme so that members aged between 57 and 73 will receive 80% of their core promised benefits.

Hugh said: “This is good news on two fronts. Firstly, the Albert Fisher Pension Scheme is now included in the Department of Work and Pensions thinking as a scheme eligible for assistance. This is a great step forward. Secondly, those aged between 57 and 73 will receive 80% of their core promised benefits.

“However, there are also a large number of people who have been affected by the closure of the scheme who do not fall into this category. I will continue to fight on their behalf.”