Posted by Peter Hill on 08 October 2000 at 12:03:04:
I wrote to my MP,Oliver Letwin' on 26 Sep and received the following reply on 2 Oct together with a copy of the letter he has written to the Ombudsman, Dr Julian Farrand, both of these are attached for your information. You might consider copying them to your own MP. Oliver Letwin is the opposition front bench spoksman for the Secretary to the Treasury and was the chairman of the Tory party Pensions Policy commitee. I believe he has considerable influence.
FROM: OLIVER LETWIN MP
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON SWIA OAA
020 7219 3000
1 October 2000
Mr Peter T B Hill
Dear Mr Hill
Thank you for your letter of 21 September.
The information you provide about IBM's plans on pensions is worrying.
I am more than willing to take this matter up with the Ombudsman in support of the points that have already been made. I attach a copy of the letter I have sent to the Pensions Ombudsman.
Yours sincerely
OLIVER LETWIN MP
1 October 2000
Dr Julian Farrand
Pensions Ombudsman
6th Floor
11 Belgrave Road
LONDON SW I V I RB
Dear Dr Farrand
I am writing to you on behalf of my constituent, Mr Peter T B Hill of ( address supplied), in relation to the proposals by IBM United Kingdom to transfer funds from a final salary pension scheme to a money purchase scheme.
I understand that you have already been approached in relation to this proposed transfer, and that it is being alleged by the pensioners that this is not an equitable or proper action on the part of the trustees.
I am writing to urge that you should treat this case with the seriousness I am sure it deserves. As you will be all too well aware, the trend is now towards changes from final salary to money purchase schemes - and I, in common with many other MPs, am worried that this may all too easily degenerate into another pensions scandal. As a result, the decision you make is of particular importance: it will help to set a precedent that may prevent such problems arising in the future.
Yours sincerely
OLIVER LETWIN MP