Caroline Spelman (Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Communities and Local Government; Meriden, Conservative)

I wish to present a petition from residents of my constituency, who are members, former members or the personal representatives of deceased members of the Equitable Life Assurance Society. I have been handed 61 signatures in support of the petition, and, Madam Deputy Speaker, you are probably aware that more than 400 former members and members of Equitable Life attended a rally at Parliament today.

The petitioners request:

that the House of Commons urges the Government to uphold the constitutional standing of the Parliamentary Ombudsman by complying with the findings and recommendations of her Report upon Equitable Life and to act quickly so that policyholders receive the justice that they have so long been denied.

I stand in support of this petition and present it to the House.

Following is the full text of the petition:

[ The Petition of residents of the constituency of Meriden in the West Midlands,

Declares that the petitioners either are or they represent or support members, former members or personal representatives of deceased members of the Equitable Life Assurance Society who have suffered maladministration leading to injustice, as found by the Parliamentary Ombudsman in her report upon Equitable Life, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 16 July 2008 and bearing reference number HC 815; and further declares that the petitioners or those whom they represent or support have suffered regulatory failure on the part of the public bodies responsible from the year 1992 onwards, but have not received compensation for the resulting losses.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to uphold the constitutional standing of the Parliamentary Ombudsman by complying with the findings and recommendations of her Report upon Equitable Life and to act quickly so that policyholders receive the justice that they have so long been denied .

And the Petitioners remain, etc. ]

[P000408]