Miners pension injustice ended by Government returning BCSSS investment reserve
The Labour Government has ended miners pension injustice by returning BCSSS investment reserve to former mineworkers and their families
Josh Simons, MP for Makerfield has welcomed the reversal of a historic injustice as mineworkers and their families, including from former pit-mines across Wigan finally have the investment reserve from their pension scheme transferred to them, boosting their pensions by an average of £100 a week
This delivers longstanding campaign ask from former miners, building on previous action taken on the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme. Josh Simons MP had written to the Minister previously, asking for her to take action as soon as possible, and spoke in the chamber about the importance of honouring our mining history.
Former mineworkers will receive a significant uplift in their weekly pension, overturning an historic injustice and ensuring fair pay outs for years to come.
Following the announcement by the Chancellor in yesterday’s (November 26) budget, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed that the move will mean a 41 per cent per cent boost to the annual pensions of 40,000 former mineworkers across the UK – an average increase of £100 per week for each member.
Mr Simons said that former miners had waited for the pension settlement they deserve for “far too long”. He added “mining powered this country - it is at the centre of this country’s industrial story, and the heart of our communities. This is a victory for the relentless campaigning of communities across Wigan and the North and industrial communities across the country, and I am so pleased to see this injustice not only recognised, but fixed.”
The trustees of the scheme are expected to make the first uplifted payments to members before the end of the year, with payments backdated to coincide with when the changes were implemented to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.
Mr Miliband said: “We owe the mining communities who powered this country a debt of gratitude. For far too long the government has failed to deliver justice for former mineworkers and their families.
Chris Kitchen, General Secretary of the NUM said that the this would ”benefit not just the pensioner but our former mining communities devastated by the closure of our industry.” He called it “a commitment made, a commitment delivered.”