Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason The Pensions Ombudsman and The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman were unable to investigate the information on pension options provided by the Government and its agents to AEA Technology pension scheme members in 1996.

The Pensions Ombudsman and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman may only investigate matters within the statutory jurisdictions set by Parliament.

Decisions on which bodies may investigate pension matters reflect deliberate Parliamentary choices to ensure clear roles and an effective system of redress. In the case of the AEA Technology pension scheme, specific issues have been considered by both Ombudsmen.