EQUITABLE LIFE MEMBERS

Press Release - Roy Beggs MP

Last Updated: Friday, March 15, 2002 01:08 PM

PRESS RELEASE

From: Roy Beggs MP, Ulster Unionist, East Antrim

Date: 15 March 2002 – IMMEDIATE

CAMPAIGN FOR EQUITABLE LIFE INQUIRY GATHERS PACE

East Antrim MP Roy Beggs has welcomed the news that his House of Commons Early Day Motion calling on the Parliamentary Ombudsman to launch an independent inquiry into the Equitable Life affair has now attracted the support of 126 MPs.

Speaking from Westminster earlier today, Mr Beggs said:

“It is very satisfying that so many Members of Parliament from all parties in the House have registered their support for my EDM.  With such a significant number of colleagues having been persuaded to support the Motion, I believe the Government should undoubtedly take account of the request for an independent inquiry to be launched. I also will now seek to raise the matter with the Leader of the House of Commons at Business Questions on Thursday 21 March.”

Commenting on the news that the Early Day Motion had attracted such a high level of support, Liz Kwantes of the Equitable Life Members Help Group said:

"The policyholders and ex-policyholders of Equitable Life are extremely grateful to Roy Beggs for putting forward this EDM and for appreciating the injustice that has been done to so many people.  It seems virtually every report that comes out substantiates the claim of maladministration by the regulators going back over several years.  As an annuitant said to me this week, ‘it is all very well being told to wait for Penrose to finish, before an inquiry such as this can be even started, I won't be around to see its completion if I have to wait that long.’

I should also like to comment on the enormous amount of support that so many MPs have given from all parties.  A lot of their constituents have sent copies of these letters to us and it really gladdens the heart to see some of them.  On the other hand I am extremely disappointed and saddened by a small handful who just use stereotype, rubber stamp letters to brush off their constituents with platitudes.  It seems amazing to me that there are people who are Members of Parliament who seem to think that they can ignore something that has had such a traumatic impact on over one million individuals in this country, not to mention their families.  I, along with over a million others, thank Roy Beggs for bringing this enormously important issue back into the public arena."