MPs urge govt action in Visteon scheme fight

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A group of MPs have tabled a parliamentary motion urging the government to ensure Ford meets the pension losses of former Visteon employees.

The battle between Ford and Visteon pensioners has been ongoing since the spin-off company entered administration in 2009 - with its pension plan entering the Pension Protection Fund with a £350m deficit.

The former employees, supported by Unite, are taking legal action against Ford for providing them with misleading advice about the security of their pensions when they were transferred to Visteon.

Ford denies the claims and a court date has been set for January 2013.

Conservative MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock Stephen Metcalfe put forward the early day motion.

It argues that Ford has a "duty of care" to its former employees and urges the government to use its power to ensure the company meets its "obligations".

The motion reads: "That this House notes that, when Visteon UK Ltd was spun off from the Ford Motor Company, employees transferred from Ford's pension fund into the Visteon UK pension fund on the clear understanding that their pension rights would be unaffected.

"Further notes that when Visteon UK subsequently went into administration former Ford employees suffered a substantial reduction in their pension rights; believes that Ford has a duty of care to their former employees and should make good the pension losses suffered by those worst affected.

"And calls on the government to use the power and influence at its disposal to help ensure that Ford recognises its obligations and accepts its duty of care to former Visteon UK pensioners."

The motion has been co-sponsored by Tory MP Peter Bottomley, Labour MPs Geraint Davies and Mark Durkan, Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards and Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell.

Six other MPs have signed the motion in support.

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