“What assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring pension scheme surpluses in defined benefit schemes to be used to improve pensions for members before surplus funds can be released to sponsoring employers.”
Asked by
Clive Jones
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Answer from Hansard
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Stephen Doughty)
Ahead of the elections on 11 October, I expressed my concerns directly to Foreign Minister Darchiashvili about pressure on civil society and stigmatisation of minorities ahead of the parliamentary elections. Following the elections, I publicly expressed support for the preliminary findings of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in relation to the election. I called on the Georgian authorities to investigate all irregularities and reverse their declining commitment to an inclusive and open democracy.