Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Former Mineworkers’ Pensions

Tuesday 21 January 2025 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Richard Baker asked about the impact of the mineworkers' pension scheme on local economies and communities in his constituency.
  • Nick Smith raised the issue of the British Coal pension scheme affecting families in south Wales, including his late uncles.
  • David Mundell inquired about ensuring fairness for those who worked underground before being promoted into other jobs within the British Coal scheme.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Baker Lab Glenrothes and Mid Fife
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP highlights the importance of the mineworkers' pension scheme for former miners in his constituency, referencing specific local impacts.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that ending the injustice of the mineworkers’ pension scheme is great news not only for the 849 former mineworkers in my constituency who will benefit, but for the economies of the local communities where they live, which were left behind by the previous Government? Will he and his colleagues in government continue to engage with the trustees of the British Coal staff superannuation scheme to ensure that, in the same way, the funds built up in that scheme are used for the benefit of its members?

Answer from Darren Jones (Chief Secretary to the Treasury)

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and his work on behalf of his constituents. He may know that, in the previous Parliament, I and colleagues worked on the mineworkers’ pension scheme through the Business and Trade Committee to lay the ground for the initiatives that this Government were quickly able to implement on coming into government. Unfortunately, that work had not yet been done for the British Coal staff superannuation scheme, which is why Ministers are meeting the scheme’s trustees to consider the options.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to specific actions regarding the BCSSS funds but acknowledged ongoing engagement with trustees.

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Q2 Nick Smith Lab Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP emphasizes the importance of uplifting former miners' pensions in south Wales, referencing his family's mining history.

Question

This is an important issue for south Wales families. My uncle Jacky was a deputy at Cwm Marine pit and my uncle Georgie was a deputy at Oakdale. Sadly, they have now passed, but they were members of the British Coal pension scheme. Many of their mining friends will be in their 80s and 90s, and their pensions deserve uplifting, so will the Minister please commit to making good progress here? Time is running out for the men and women who fired our industrial past.

Answer from Darren Jones (Chief Secretary to the Treasury)

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that question on an issue that I know is deeply important to him, his constituents and his family, and on which he has worked for many years. The Government are actively considering proposals from the scheme’s trustees, and we will set out the next steps in due course. My hon. Friend the Minister for Industry in the Department for Business and Trade will be working on the detail, and I will be meeting her shortly to consider the options.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a specific commitment but acknowledged ongoing work and future steps.

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Q3 David Mundell Con Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP raises concerns about the compensation timescale for former miners in his constituency who worked underground before being promoted into other jobs.

Question

I have significant former mining areas in the Douglas valley and Upper Nithsdale in my constituency. Constituents there are concerned about the British Coal scheme, because many people in that scheme actually worked underground before being promoted into other jobs. To ensure fairness in the implementation of this Government policy, will the Minister make sure that the timescale on which they are compensated is the same as that for those in the other scheme?

Answer from Darren Jones (Chief Secretary to the Treasury)

I thank the right hon. Member for his question, and I think “fairness” is the right word. That is why we worked in opposition to try to persuade the last Government to act on the mineworkers’ pension scheme, but we failed because the last Government did not think this was an urgent issue for them to consider. The Labour Government have implemented this change at our first Budget, and that is fairness in action. We will continue to work with trustees of the BCSSS, and we will come back with further options in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a specific commitment on compensation timescales but emphasized ongoing work and future steps.

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Q4 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP inquires about the status of former miners who retired to Northern Ireland and their eligibility for pension uplifts.

Question

I understand that some families of those affected who have passed away have retired to Northern Ireland, and they deserve their pensions. That being the case, has the right hon. Gentleman had an opportunity to ascertain the numbers of those in Northern Ireland who will qualify for such pensions, and will he chase up those people to ensure they get the moneys they deserve?

Answer from Darren Jones (Chief Secretary to the Treasury)

I thank the hon. Member for his question. I am afraid I have not had time to do so since he told me 35 minutes ago that he was going to ask that question, but I have heard it clearly. I will take that away and come back to him in course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a specific commitment but acknowledged the importance of the issue and promised to follow up.

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