To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20437 by Mr Tom McCabe on 5 December 2005, whether it is now in a position to give a more accurate prediction of when it will pay out the remainder of the £126 million which it agreed to pay out in ex gratia payments from the Scottish Transport Group pension funds surplus.

It is not possible to speculate when the remainder of the £126 million will be paid out. This will depend on the number and frequency of valid claims received from former members of the Scottish Transport Group pension scheme. Information relating to potential applicants has been available on the SPPA and Transport Division web pages since 2005.

Since 2005, SPPA have received valid claims totalling £83,000, and this leaves £167,000 available for distribution.