Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme Living Standards 2024-12-17

2024-12-17

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Josh Simons Lab
Makerfield
Context
The MP noted concerns about the potential impact of changes to the mineworkers' pension scheme on living standards, referencing a historical injustice.
What assessment has been made of the potential impact of changes to the mineworkers' pension scheme on the living standards of recipients?
In the Budget, the Government decided to transfer the mineworkers' pension scheme investment reserve to members of the scheme. At the end of last month, the first increase in payments was made to over 100,000 ex-miners and their families, representing an extra 32% rise in people's pensions each month—an average of £29 per week.
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Q2 Direct Answer
Lillian Jones Lab
Kilmarnock and Loudoun
Context
The MP thanked the Secretary of State for previous replies and noted that British coal staff superannuation scheme trustees wrote to the Department last month with reform proposals.
I thank the Secretary of State for that reply and for his attentive engagement on the issue. I understand that British coal staff superannuation scheme trustees wrote to the Department last month with reform proposals. I urge the Secretary of State to meet them as soon as possible to rectify the long-standing injustice, especially given the increasing age and declining health of the beneficiaries.
I should say that the praise all goes to the Minister for Industry, my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon West (Sarah Jones), who is in sole charge of the issue and has been engaging with the trustees of the BCSSS; indeed, I believe she met them yesterday.
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Q3 Direct Answer
Nick Smith Lab
Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Context
The MP highlighted that in Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, 1,600 miners received increased payments from the mineworkers' pension scheme. He mentioned his family history involving miners who were pit supervisors.
In Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, 1,600 miners received the biggest number of increased payments from the mineworkers' pension scheme in Wales. All of my uncles on my mum's side were miners. Dessie Winter will benefit from the MPS changes, but Georgie and Jackie paid into the National Coal Board staff pension scheme. Since 1994, the Government have received £3.1 billion from the BCSSS. Will the Secretary of State say if he will look again at the staff side's surplus payments to benefit our pensioners?
My hon. Friend makes his point with customary eloquence. I know that there were people who waited for injustice to be remedied but sadly died before it happened. He refers to part of the issue raised by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee about 50:50 surplus sharing; my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry is looking at that.
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Q4 Direct Answer
Graeme Downie Lab
Dunfermline and Dollar
Context
The MP highlighted that correcting the injustice in the mineworkers' pension scheme made a difference to former miners but noted concerns from BCSSS members who feel left behind.
Correcting the injustice in the mineworkers' pension scheme has made an incredible difference to the former miners in my constituency of Dunfermline and Dollar after so many years. At the weekend, I met representatives from the BCSSS in Fife, including those particularly affected by that scheme and women who worked in canteens and other areas. Will the Secretary of State meet campaigners in Fife and across Scotland regarding this issue, and will he ensure that progress is made as quickly as possible to correct the injustice?
I know there is a strong feeling about the BCSSS. My hon. Friend the Minister for Industry has moved at speed to meet the trustees, and she knows that there is a read-across from some of the injustices in the MPS.
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Q5 Direct Answer
Jacob Collier Lab
Burton and Uttoxeter
Context
The MP welcomed the Government's announcement on the mineworkers' pension scheme but noted concerns from BCSSS members about unequal treatment compared to MPS members.
As a Collier, I welcome the Government's announcement on the mineworkers' pension scheme. However, as the Secretary of State has heard, BCSSS members have raised concerns about unequal treatment given the similarities between schemes. What steps are the Secretary of State and the Minister taking to ensure that those former British Coal employees are treated equitably?
My hon Friend is right about read-across and the sense that injustice remedied in MPS needs to be remedied in BCSSS. My hon Friend the Minister for Industry has moved at speed, delivering justice in less than five months as the Conservative Government never did.
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Q6 Partial Answer
Josh Simons Lab
Makerfield
Context
The MP noted that more than 500 people in Makerfield stand to benefit from changes introduced by the Government to the mineworkers' pension scheme.
In my constituency of Makerfield, over 500 people will benefit from changes introduced by this Government to the mineworkers' pension scheme. For years, those people and their families watched as Conservative Governments stole their pensions and disrespected their work. I want us to celebrate our industrial past and remember those who made this nation wealthy and powered our industrial revolution. Does the Secretary of State agree that we need to do more to remember the legacy of mining as well as driving up living standards?
My hon. Friend is right. Almost every constituency—
Assessment & feedback
Celebrating the industrial past was not addressed specifically, though it was mentioned as an aside.
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Q7 Partial Answer
James Wild Con
North West Norfolk
Context
The MP noted that constituents who benefit from pension increases will welcome them but asked about potential loss of winter fuel payments for some members.
My constituents who stand to benefit from this increase will welcome it, but how many members of the mineworkers' pension scheme will be losing out on winter fuel payments worth up to £300 due to decisions taken?
This is actually to do with the disastrous economic legacy left by the Conservative party. The truth is that, even in tough times, the Labour Government are showing with their decisions on the MPS how we can make our society more just.
Assessment & feedback
Number of people losing winter fuel payments was not addressed.
Disastrous Economic Legacy Conservative Party
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Q8 Partial Answer
Lisa Smart Lib Dem
Hazel Grove
Context
The MP mentioned frequently being asked about what pension funds could do to tackle climate change, particularly in relation to investing in fossil fuels.
My constituents often ask me how pension funds can better address climate change. Will the Secretary of State update the House on conversations with the Pensions Minister regarding net zero goals?
That is an excellent question, Mr Speaker. I will write to the hon. Lady with a good answer.
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No substantive information provided beyond a promise to write.
Will Write
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Q9 Partial Answer
David Chadwick Lib Dem
Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
Context
The question arises from the autumn Budget decision to end pension injustice for miners in the mineworkers' pension scheme, but not those in the British coal staff superannuation scheme.
I should declare an interest in that many of my relatives across south Wales are former miners. In the autumn Budget, the Government made the decision to end the pension injustice for miners who were part of the mineworkers' pension scheme, but they did not do the same for the 40,000 miners who were part of the British coal staff superannuation scheme, including 151 former miners in my own constituency. Will the Government guarantee that these men and women get the pension they deserve and explain why they will have to wait longer for justice than many of their former colleagues?
The hon. Member and I both have constituency interests in this matter, none the less, no action was taken on this for a very long time since privatisation. This Government took action in the Budget in less than five months. My hon. Friend the Minister for Industry is now turning her attention to the BCSSS.
Assessment & feedback
Specific guarantee and explanation of why there will be a delay were not provided
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Q10 Partial Answer
Jim Shannon DUP
Strangford
Context
The Government is working on addressing the injustice of the miners' pension scheme, affecting individuals in Northern Ireland who worked in mines.
May I welcome what the Government and the Minister are doing on this matter? This good scheme takes care of an injustice from some 30 years ago. There are those in Northern Ireland who worked in the mines, and their families are still concerned about this issue. Can we have a timescale for the completion of the work on the British coal staff superannuation scheme, which some of them would have qualified for?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. I am glad that he, too—like everyone else in this House, according to my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry—has constituents who will be benefiting from this work. The best I can say to him on this issue is that the Minister for Industry will have heard the calls made with real urgency and will act accordingly.
Assessment & feedback
Specific timescale was not provided
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