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British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme 2025-06-11
11 June 2025
Lead MP
Lee Anderson
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
Employment
Other Contributors: 13
At a Glance
Lee Anderson raised concerns about british coal staff superannuation scheme 2025-06-11 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
I declare an interest as a member of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme. I am the last generation of coalminers in my family and have worked at four different pits, including Sutton colliery where five men died in an explosion. We are asking for a fair day’s pay from our own pot of money: the £2.3 billion investment reserve fund. The Labour party was founded on the backs of coalminers, and it's time to repay them. About 4,000 women are part of the BCSSS, and there are less than 40,000 members still in the scheme. Many miners and widows die without getting justice they deserve; 2,000 members pass away every year.
Michelle Welsh
Lab
Sherwood Forest
My constituency has the second largest BCSSS membership in the country. Almost 40% of the membership is women who worked or were spouses of miners. The Government must deliver justice for this scheme.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Congratulates the hon. Member for securing debate and praises Nationwide building society's decision to share bonuses with customers, urging the Government to address this issue urgently.
Steve Yemm
Lab
Mansfield
Asks why the hon. Member did nothing to correct this injustice given promises made by Boris Johnson during the 2019 election.
Graeme Downie
Lab
Dunfermline and Dollar
Wants to put on record the transformative intervention by the Labour Government on the mineworkers’ pension scheme.
Alan Gemmell
Lab
Central Ayrshire
Commends the Minister for releasing surplus funds from the MPS, though this issue remains unresolved for BCSSS members.
James Naish
Lab
Rushcliffe
Welcomes the constructive way in which Labour Members are working on this issue.
Natalie Fleet
Lab
Bolsover
Highlights that everyone deserves a fair pension and asks if the Treasury has received £3.2 billion to date.
Thanks campaigners such as Bobby Clelland for their work on the MPS and asks about progress on the BCSSS.
Newton Abbot
Encourages moving forward quickly based on a constituent's request.
Ian Lavery
Lab
Blyth and Ashington
Thanks the Minister for her work on the MPS finances and asks about differences between the MPS and BCSSS.
Lee Pitcher
Lab
Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
For my 719 BCSSS members, with the scheme looking quite healthy now, does the Minister have that oomph to push it forward and expedite it as quickly as possible?
Gareth Snell
Lab/Co-op
Stoke-on-Trent Central
Will interim arrangements be put in place to give some of the surplus back to the BCSSS while we wait for the Chief Secretary to make a decision?
Adam Jogee
Lab
Newcastle-under-Lyme
As the Minister carries out those meetings, will she consider meeting some of us from coalfield communities and include our views in the industrial strategy?
Government Response
No specific ministerial response provided in the given transcript. The Government is committed to addressing the issue of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS). The Minister acknowledges the strength of feeling among coalfield communities regarding this matter. She explains that, unlike the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme (MPS), there are currently no surplus sharing arrangements in the BCSSS due to previous changes made to ensure sustainability and avoid future funding risks. However, the Government is now working closely with the trustees to review and agree on future surplus sharing arrangements as swiftly as possible. The Minister confirms that she met the BCSSS trustees recently and will continue discussions over the summer break. She also mentions receiving analysis from the Government Actuary regarding options for transferring funds to scheme members, and committed to move at pace during her meeting with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. We have done a Government Actuary process and met the trustees today. We are putting our recommendation to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. While I want to move at speed, we need to ensure that any spending decisions are carefully considered. The scheme is doing well, but for many in coalfield communities, this issue has heightened their sense of injustice about the BCSSS. I am working as fast as possible and my officials will meet the Treasury tomorrow, followed by a meeting with the trustees before the summer. My door is always open to anyone campaigning on or receiving benefits from the BCSSS. We are committed to addressing the BCSSS and correcting these historical injustices.
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