A SECOND Hampshire MP has joined the chorus of voices demanding a meeting with the government to discuss the pensions crisis engulfing APW Electronics.

Sandra Gidley, who represents Romsey, wants to highlight how thousands of APW workers face an unhappy retirement after the company pension fund had to be wound up.

Many workers face losing as much as 80 per cent of their pension, meaning someone expecting to retire on £20,000 a year faces living on an income of just £4,000 instead.

Despite the severity of their financial heartache, affected APW workers, who number more than 1,250, will not be covered by the forthcoming Financial Assistance Scheme, a safety net designed to help people whose pensions funds have collapsed.

The Liberal Democrat front-bencher wants to pressure the government into taking action to resolve the situation. She wants government minister Malcolm Wicks to meet David Chidgey, Lib Dem MP for Eastleigh, Hampshire Euro MP Chris Huhne and APW workers affected by the pensions wind-up.

Mrs Gidley said: "Those of my constituents affected by the Chandler's Ford wind-up will not be eligible for compensation under the government's Financial Assistance Scheme, because the company said the action was required to prevent the business from becoming insolvent.

"Unless this loophole is closed, hundreds of local people will be losing out on their retirement funds.

"When our action group meets with the minister, we will be seeking answers and demanding action.

"The government cannot continue standing by and watching people's lives being ruined in this way."

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, the APW pensions fund had to be wound up because the company said it could not afford the £1.5m a year increased contributions needed to reduce a deficit. APW bosses said the payments would force the company into administration.

On being wound up the fund had a £55 million black hole.

Workers will meet with pension fund trustees and unions next week at the Chandler's Ford APW factory where 285 people are employed, to see if the financial blow can be reduced.