Thursday 14th February 2008
Judges at the Court of Appeal have delivered what campaigners term a "crushing verdict" on the governments handling of the occupational pensions dispute.
Campaign group Pensions Theft claims that the latest ruling is more damning than that delivered by the parliamentary ombudsman service, which observed maladministration resulting in some workers losing their pension entitlement.
In the latest verdict, the judges claim that the governments actions also brought about distress, anxiety and uncertainty, as well as denying those affected the right to take action to protect their existing pension funds.
One of the campaigns leading figures, Dr Ros Altmann, notes that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may still fight the case further - but suggests that it "beggars belief" that taxpayer money should continue to be spent on the issue.
"It is now six-nil against the DWP - how many verdicts will it take to make the government see sense?" she asks.
According to Pensions Theft, at least 125,000 people were negatively affected by the governments actions.
Dr Altmann also regards as "outrageous" the suggestion that the government should have the right to object to the findings of the parliamentary ombudsman.
She notes that to allow such behaviour would remove the protections the ombudsman service is intended to put in place for the consumer.
In related news, pensions minister Mike OBrien this week said that saving towards retirement should go "hand in hand" with an individuals working life.
"Pension pounds work harder the earlier you save - £1 saved at 20 could be worth up to 60 per cent more at retirement than the same £1 saved at 40," he asserted.
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