80% for pension wind-up victims

EMPLOYEES close to retirement whose company pension schemes have been wound up will receive a top-up to 80% of their scheme pension, it was announced today.

Pensions Minister Malcolm Wicks said eligible workers who were within three years of their scheme pension age on 14 May 2004, when the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) was announced, will receive this lifeline as part of the Government's efforts to rescue wind-up victims.

The FAS will apply to pension schemes that started winding up from 1 January 1997. This means that, depending on the pension age laid down in their particular scheme, members aged between 57 and 73, should expect to get 80% of their promised benefits. The money will be paid as a top-up pension rather than through the purchase of an annuity.

A list of 380 potentially eligible schemes that have so far provided data for the FAS was also published today [see below].

Wicks said: 'Workers who were a few years from retirement when their company went bust have been hit hardest ? losing both their jobs and their pensions with little chance to start again. We urgently needed to give these people peace of mind by making their position clear, and today we are doing so, by announcing through FAS they will now get 80% of the core pension benefits for life.

'The list of schemes that we are publishing represents the work done so far. I must stress that the door has not been shut on those schemes and their workers who do not appear on this list ? we expect to be contacted by more schemes in the coming months.'

Representatives of schemes that consider themselves eligible can contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to be included on the list.

The DWP said: 'A dedicated team, based in York, will administer the scheme and aim to get payments to recipients as soon as possible once the regulations are in place.'

Schemes potentially eligible for the Financial Assistance Scheme

The DWP says this list is based on data collected between October and December 2004. The names of schemes are those provided by scheme professionals. Schemes may be known by different names.

Schemes that are winding-up
A&R Carton (UK) Ltd Executive Pension & Life Assurance Plan
A&R Carton (UK) Ltd Pension Fund
A J Reeves & Co (Birmingham) Ltd Pension Scheme
A L Fuller Ltd 1991 Retirement Benefits Plan
A Meredith Jones & Co Ltd Retirement & Death Benefit Scheme
A Riddell & Co Ltd RBS
A V Shenton Ltd Pension Scheme
Abbeygate Group Retirement Benefits Plan
Abbots Barton Group Pension Scheme
Abingdon Carpets Plc Pension Fund
Aero-Print Ltd Pension Plan
AEW Ltd Benefits Plan
African Lakes Corporation Plc Pension Scheme
Albert Fisher Group Pension Fund
Alexanders Holdings Plc (Employees) Retirement Benefits Scheme
AoCop (Holdings) Ltd Pension & Life Assurance Scheme
APW (Associated Perforators and Weavers Ltd) Pension Fund
Arthur D Little Ltd Benefits Programme
Astra Group Pension Scheme
ASW Pension Plan
ASW Sheerness Steel Group Pension Fund
The Avon Holdings Group Pension Scheme
B.S.A. Tools Ltd Staff Pension Scheme
BAC Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Badger Catalytic Pension Scheme
Ballast Nedam Construction Ltd Retirement Benefit Scheme
Ballast Wiltshier Retirement Benefits Plan
Bartlett Group Pension & Life Assurance Plan
BCL Pension Scheme
Beard Bros Ltd Retirement Security Plan
Berkeley JCB Pension and Life Assurance Plan
BEW (Auto Products) Ltd Retirement & Death Benefits Plan
Bierrum Group Pension Scheme
Birmingham Mint Pension Plan
BKL Fittings Pension Scheme
BKL Fittings Senior Staff Pension Scheme
Black Clawson International Ltd Retirement Benefits Plan (1973)
Blueprint Group (UK) Pension Scheme
Blyth & Blyth Pension Scheme
Boulton Bros (Moddershall) Ltd 1974 Pension Scheme
Box-Carton Ltd Retirement Benefits Plan
Bradford Boxmakers Staff Pension Scheme
Bradstock Group Pension Scheme
Brannoc Fibres Ltd Pension Fund
Britannia Zinc Retirement Plan
British Federal Ltd Pension Fund
Broderick Stuctures Ltd Pension Scheme
Bronte Foods Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Brooke Industrial Holdings Ltd Group Pension Scheme
BSK Aluminium Ltd Retirement Benefit Scheme
Building Specialists Ltd Pension & Assurance Scheme
Buko Retirement Benefits Scheme (1991)
Burton Industrial Holdings Ltd Group Pension Plan
Bush & Wilton Valves Ltd Retirement Security Plan
BUSM Pension Plan
C&N Electrical Industries Ltd Pension & Life Assurance Scheme
Cambridge Optical Company Ltd Retirement Security Plan
Capper Rataud Ltd Pension
Carkeek Ltd Managed Pension Plan
Carpets International Pension Scheme
Carter Penguin Group Pension Scheme
Cartographical Services (Southampton) 1973 Pension Scheme
Cellar 5 Group Pension Scheme
Ceramic Tile Centres Ltd 1992 Pension Fund
Chamberlain Phipps Group Pension & Life Assurance Plan
Charles W Hall Plc Management Pension Scheme
Charles W Taylor & Son Ltd Pension & Life Assurance Scheme
Charles W Taylor & Son Ltd Works Pension & Life Insurance Scheme
Chart Marston Pension Scheme
Cheney Pension Scheme
Christiani & Nielsen Ltd Pension Fund
Citex Group Pension Scheme
Citizen Manufacturing (UK) Personal Retirement Fund
Cliffe (Holdings) Retirement
Clifford Whatmough Ltd Pension Plan
Colbrook Equipment Ltd (1988) Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme
Colebrand Ltd Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme
Colour Processing Pension Scheme
Colway Tyres Ltd Pension Scheme
Concurrent Computer Corporation Ltd Pension Plan
Constructor Group Retirement Benefits Scheme
Cooperheat Employees Benefits Scheme
Coopers & Lyons plc Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
Copes-Vulcan Superannuation Fund and Life Assurance Scheme
Coupe Foundry Pension Scheme
Crawshaw Robbins & Co Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Creechurch Pension Fund
Crest Pension Fund
Crosrol Ltd - Staff Pension Scheme
Crosrol Ltd - Works Retirement Benefits Plan
Crouch Mining Pension Scheme
Cuthbert Heath Family Security Plan
Dartington Crystal Ltd Pension Scheme for Foreign Personnel
Dartington Crystal Pension Scheme
David Crabtree & Son Ltd (No. 2) Pension & Life Assurance Plan
David Crabtree & Son Pension & Life Assurance Scheme
Dawson Fur Fabrics Ltd Pension Scheme
Delplan Ltd Employee Benefit Scheme
Demaglass Pension Scheme
Dennis Group Money Purchase Pension Scheme*
Dennis Group Pension and Assurance Scheme
Dexion Group Pension & Assurance Scheme
Dixons of Halifax Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Donside Paper Company Ltd Pension Scheme
Dunlop Textiles Ltd Pension Scheme
Dunn & Co Group Pension Scheme
Eagle Precision Technologies Ltd Retirement Benefits Plan
Earby Light Engineers Ltd Group Pension Scheme
Earlys of Witney Plc Contributory Pension Scheme
Eaton International Staff Pension Scheme
Echo Plastics Pension Scheme
Edward Hockley Holdings Ltd Pension & Assurance Scheme
Elbief Plc Pension Scheme
Elliott-Thwaites Pension Scheme No 1
EMW Pension Plan
ESM Retirement Benefit Scheme
Estuary Colour Group Ltd Pension Scheme
Fabric Care Research Association Ltd RBS
Falmer Ltd Pension Scheme
Famous Army Stores Ltd Pension Scheme
Felix Schoeller Imaging Ltd Pension Scheme
Fennedale Group Executive Pension Scheme (1998)
Ferraris Piston Services Ltd Retirement Benefits Plan
FII Group Pension
Fisher Foods RF No 2 Retirement & Death Benefit Scheme
Fishers Group Pension Scheme (1993)
Flare Group Plc Pension Scheme
FMA Pension & Life Assurance Scheme
Fosters Trading Company Pension Scheme
G A Woodcock Ltd & Subsidiary Companies Pension and Assurance Scheme
Gascoigne Pension Scheme
GBE International Plc Pension Scheme
Gibbons Refractories Pension Scheme
Gloystarne & Co Ltd Retirement Benefits scheme
Greater Nottingham Tec Pension Fund
Greenup Grower Marketing Services Ltd Retirement Benefit Scheme
Guide Pensions
Hancocks of Horsham Retirement Benefits Scheme
Harbury Group Pension Scheme
HAT Property Services Defined Benefits Scheme
Hawtal Whiting Pension Fund
Hayes Shell Cast Pension Scheme
Heathcote & Ivory Ltd Retirement Security Plan
Henry Barrett Group Plc Pension & Life Assurance Scheme
Hill Leigh Group Retirement Benefits Scheme
Hird Hastie Ltd Pension Scheme
Hollas Group 1995 Retirement and Death Benefit Plan
How Produce Group Pension Scheme
HR Holdings Ltd Final Salary Pension Scheme
HTA Industries Pension Scheme
Hubron Ltd Retirement Benefits Plan (1974)
Hydra Tools International Ltd Pension Scheme
Idem Furniture Ltd Pension and Death Benefits Plan
Imperial Home Decor Pension Scheme
Independent Insurance Co Ltd Pension Scheme
Industry-wide Mineworkers' Pension Scheme - NSM Mining (South Wales) section
Industry-wide Mineworkers' Pension Scheme - Rackwood Colliery Company section
Inframan Pension Scheme
Interwood Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
ISC Retirement Benefits Plan
J Blake & Company Ltd Retirement & Life Assurance Plan
J C Hatt Ltd Pension Scheme
J Collingridge Ltd Employee Benefits Scheme
J F Foord Ltd Pension and Life Benefits Scheme
James Longley Group Pension Scheme
James Mackie & Sons Ltd Staff Superannuation Fund
JOH Holding Ltd Pension and Assurance Scheme
John French Industries Ltd Pension & Life Assurance Scheme
John Howitt Group Ltd Pension & Assurance Scheme
John Howitt Group Ltd Senior Managers Pension Scheme
John R Billows Ltd Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
Johnson Radley Pension
Kalamazoo Pension & Life Assurance Plan
Kaldair Ltd Pension Scheme
Karrimor International Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Kaye Aluminium Pension Scheme
Kenrick & Jefferson Group Pension Plan
Killick Martin & Company Ltd Retirement Benefit Plan 1989
Knight Organisation Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
Kode International Pension and Assurance Plan (1993)
Kontron Instruments Ltd Pension Scheme
L Gardner & Sons Pension Scheme
Lamont Group Pension Plan
Lancashire Dairies Ltd Pension Scheme
Landis & Gyr Pension & Life Assurance Plan
LAWDC's Pension Scheme
Lemken Tri-ag Staff Pension Scheme
Lewis & Peat (Rubber) Ltd Pension Scheme
Lewis Woolf Griptight Pension & Life Assurance (1978) Scheme
Leyland Printing Co & Associated Companies Pension & Life Assurance Scheme
Lighting Technology Group Pension & Assurance Scheme
Lion Mark Holdings Pension and Assurance Plan
Lister & Co Ltd 1975 Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
Lister Petter Pension Scheme
LK Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
LS & J Sussman Ltd Pension & Life Assurance Scheme
M Petrushkin Ltd Staff Pension and Assurance Scheme
Macdermott pension scheme
Mari Pensions 2000 Superplan
Marketing Improvements Group Defined Contribution Pension Scheme
Marwin Production Systems Pension & Assurance Scheme
Mason Pittendrigh Holdings Ltd
Masta Struk Ltd RSP
Mayfair Laundry Ltd P & LAS
McMaster Stores Scotland Ltd
Mecro Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Meltis (1991) Pension Scheme
Melton Medes (Fletchers) Fund
Merretts Syndicates Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
MetalTech International plc Pension Fund
MG (UK) Staff Pension Scheme
Michael Butler Leather Goods Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Midland & Scottish Resources Plc Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme
Miller Knight Ltd Pension
Minerva Engineering Ltd 1992 Retirement Benefit Scheme
Mitchell Shackleton & Company Ltd 1988 Pension Plan
Moll Industries Retirement Benefits Scheme
Morris Pension Plan
Mossley Spinning Pension Scheme
Motherwell Bridge Group Pension Plan
Motor Panels Staff Pension Scheme
Motorworld Group Ltd Pension and Assurance Scheme
Moulinex Swan Retirement Benefits Plan
MSI UK Pension Scheme
Multiplex Techniques Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
National Welsh Omnibus Pension Scheme
New College Pension and Life Assurance Scheme (1983)
New Plan Furniture Ltd 1978 Retirement Benefits Plan
Nickerson Investments Ltd Pension
Norman Cordiner Ltd Pension
Northampton Diesel & Electrical Services Pension Scheme
NSM Plc Group Pension Scheme
Offley Bros Retirement Benefit Scheme
Oldham Signs Ltd Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
Oriental Express Pension Fund
Penton Pension Scheme
Perivan Pension Scheme
Philip Johnstone Group Pension Scheme
Phillips Structures Ltd Pension and Life Assurance Plan
Pillans & Wilson Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
Placketts Express Parcels Ltd Pension Scheme
Plaswood Products Ltd Pension Scheme
Plint & Partners Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Plymbridge Distributors Pension Scheme
Powerhouse (Protected Employees) Pension Plan
Price & Finch Ltd Pension & Life Assurance Plan
Princedale Group Pension Scheme
Property Partnerships PLC Hotel Div Pension Scheme
Purpose Built Ltd Pension Fund
Ravenhead Company Pension Plan
Ravenhead Company Senior Management Pension Plan
Real Software (UK) Ltd Pension Scheme
Reece Final Salary Scheme
Richard Roberts Holdings Ltd RBS
Richards Group Pension Scheme
RKF Group Pension Plan
RSCG KLP Group Pension Fund
Rye Pension Fund
Ryford Ltd Pension & Assurance Scheme
S Jones Industrial Holdings Plc Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
Sabena Pension Fund
Sale Tilney Group of Companies Retirement Benefits Plan (1973)
Salex Group Pension Scheme
Salvage Association Retirement Benefits Plan for Surveyors
Samuel Jones Pension Scheme
Sanderson Pension Scheme
Scientific Investment Pension Plan
Scipher Pension Scheme
Scotia Pension Scheme
Scottish Computer Services Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Self Serve Hygiene Ltd Pension Scheme (1981)
Selkirk Pension Plan (1989)
SES Group Pension Scheme
Shalet Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Shepherds Grove Ltd
Shipbuilding Industries Pension Scheme - Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd Section
Shirtmaker's Guild Pension Scheme
SHM Pension Scheme
Simson Pimm Retirement Benefits Plan
Skeet & Jefes Ltd Pension & Assurance Scheme
Snackhouse Plc Executive Pension Scheme
Sowester Ltd Pension & Life Assurance Plan
Stag Employees Security Plan
Stag Furniture Retirement Benefits Plan
Stonehouse Battye Pension Scheme
Stormont Pension & Life Assurance Scheme (1977)
STS Pension
Sunleigh Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
SVM Pension Plan
Swanlux Public Sector Employee Pension Scheme
Syon Print Ltd Retirement Benefit Scheme
T R Transport Staff Pension Scheme
Technograv Ltd Pension Scheme
Temperature Ltd Pension Scheme
The Alltek Retirement and Death Benefits Plan
Thermo Electric International Ltd Pension and Associated Benefits Plan
Thermos Pension Plan (1989)
Thomas Ryan Pension Fund
Tom Smith Staff Pension & Life assurance Scheme
Top Hat Holdings Ltd Pension Scheme
Totectors Retirement Benefits Plan
Tranromen Vehicles Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Transtec Automotive (Coventry & Nuneaton) Pension Scheme
Transtec Automotive (Coventry & Nuneaton) Retirement Benefit Scheme
Triefus Group Staff Pension
Triplex Components Group Ltd Pension Scheme
Truman King Life Trucks Retirement Benefits Plan
Tyzack Machine Knives Ltd
UK Safety Group Pension Scheme
Unicomp Final Salary Scheme
Unidare Plastics Pension & Death Benefits Plan
United Engineering Forgings Pension Scheme
United Engineering Forgings Senior Executive Pension Scheme
Unsco steels Ltd pension plan
UPF Pension Plan
USM Texon Pension Scheme
VDL UK Pension Scheme
Viasystems Tyneside Ltd Pension Scheme
Vink Plastics Ltd Pension Scheme
Viscosuisse Textured Yarns Ltd Pension and Death Benefits Scheme
W & G Pension Scheme
W J Cooper & Sons (Phoenix Works) Ltd 1975 Pension Scheme
Warrens Imaging Laboratories Ltd Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
Westport Group Plc Pension Scheme
Whelpdale Maxwell & Codd Ltd Pension Fund
Whiteley Read Ltd RBS
Willbow Manufacturing Co Ltd (1978) (Works)
Willbow Manufacturing Co Ltd Pension & Benefit (Staff)
William Bate Ltd Retirement Benefit Scheme
William Denby & Sons Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Wills Group Pension Scheme
Wintercountry Services Scheme
Wrynams Pension & Life Assurance Scheme
Yardley Lentheric Payroll Pension Fund
Yardley Lentheric Staff Pension Fund
ZAL Holdings Group Pension Scheme
ZCCM(UK) Pension and Death Benefit Plan

Schemes that have wound up
Anglian Produce P&LAS
BH Matthews Ltd Retirement Plan
Carlyle Group Pension Scheme
Charter Reinsurance Retirement Plan Chatfield (Stoke) Ltd Retirement & Death Benefit Scheme
DMB Contractors Ltd Staff Pension and Life Assurance Plan Don Construction Chemicals Ltd Pension Scheme
Engine Express Components Ltd Pension Scheme
Euribon Ltd Pension & Life Assurance Scheme
Evesham Metal Pressings Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Fox Brothers & Co Ltd Staff Pension Scheme
G Cussons Ltd Pension
HH Robertson
H Page & Sons (Holdings) Ltd - Stanplan
Highfield Gears Ltd (1974) Retirement Benefits Plan
Hydesville Tower School Ltd P & LAS
International Oil Insurers Pension Scheme
James Mackie & Sons Ltd Works Cash Benefit & Life Assurance Scheme
James North Footwear Ltd Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
L'Union Des Assurances De Paris Pension & Life Assurance Scheme
Maples Pension Scheme
Maypark Holdings Ltd 1975 Retirement Fund
Miles Smith Plc & Associate Companies Pension Scheme
Norris Joinery Ltd 1978 RBS
P Williams (Chemists) Ltd 1980 Pension Scheme
Philip Stacey Contracts Ltd Pension Scheme
Printline Stationers Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
Proctor and Lavender Ltd Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
R Dingle & Sons Ltd 1986 Pension Scheme
Savile Estate Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
Shipbuilding Industries Pension Scheme : GEL (Rhayader) Ltd Section
Silver Cross Ltd Retirement Benefits Plan
Spencer Coatings Ltd Pension Scheme
Stag Cabinet Pension fund
Stainton Metal Company Pension Plan
Stanplan F for Milne Tannahil & Methven Ltd
Steelfab Ltd Pension Scheme
Tahiran (UK) Ltd Retirement Benefit Scheme
Tucker Bros (Radio & TV) Ltd 1978 Pension Scheme
Turnright Controls Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
Tyndall Oversea (Sterling) Pension Scheme

*The Dennis Group Money Purchase Pension Scheme is a hybrid scheme that contains a defined benefit tier