AA pension scheme trustees should be rigorously investigated by The Pensions Regulator as the pension scheme deficit reaches £622m, GMB has said.

GMB, a trade union for staff in the AA, has called on TPR to decide whether AA trustees have taken the appropriate measures to handle the company’s growing deficit.

The union has said that the role of AA trustees should be examined, especially around the area of ‘conflicts of interest’. This surrounds trustees’ duties to act impartially, prudently and honestly, in line with the deed and rules, and in the best interest of beneficiaries, among others.

Earlier this month GMB asked TPR to investigate the role of the AA’s former owners which impacted the firm’s ballooning deficit.

The AA deficit is now one of the largest pension scheme deficits as a percentage of equity capital among FTSE 250 companies. Its net debt of £2.8bn and its £622m shortfall is twice the total BHS pension deficit of £345m that was recorded under Sir Philip Green’s ownership.

GMB regional organiser Paul Grafton, said: "The role played by the AA pension fund trustees at the time the deficit has ballooned to £622m must be rigorously investigated and scrutinised in detail by The Pensions Regulator.

“GMB question whether the trustees have been properly proactive in protecting the fund while money has flowed out of the organisation to the private equity owners and in interest payments to cover the debt mountain they landed on the organisation."

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