To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received regarding the pension schemes of the National Bus Company; and if he will make a statement. [82532]

We have received a number of representations from former employees of the National Bus Company, and others, about the repayment of the surpluses from the company's pension schemes paid over to the Department of Transport in 1990. We are giving high priority to achieving without any unnecessary delay a just out-of-court settlement of the litigation commenced by the schemes' trustees on this matter.