Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme 2025-06-11

11 June 2025 · 13 other contributors

Opened by Lee Anderson Reform Ashfield

EmploymentBenefits & Welfare

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

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.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme involving a declaration of interest by a member.
  • The scheme has a 2.3 billion investment reserve fund and includes about 4,000 women among its less than 40,000 members.
  • The Minister acknowledges the issue but notes there are no current surplus sharing arrangements in the BCSSS.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Lee Anderson Reform Ashfield

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.

Other contributors (13)
  • 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.

  • Graeme Downie

    Thanks campaigners such as Bobby Clelland for their work on the MPS and asks about progress on the BCSSS.

  • Martin Wrigley LD 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

Government Minister

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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