A number of former mineworkers have expressed anger after a senior minister mentioned they must wait till later this yr to seek out out if they may obtain a few of the surplus cash of their pension scheme.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced in final yr’s Funds members of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme (MPS) would obtain further funds.
She mentioned it could imply “working individuals who powered our nation obtain the truthful pension they’re owed”.
However there was no point out of the British Coal Workers Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS), which incorporates ex-miners as members together with individuals who held different roles within the trade.
Chatting with RAYNAE East Midlands At present, the chief secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, indicated there could be an announcement within the subsequent Funds, saying “we’ll be capable of say extra in direction of the top of the yr”.
However former miner Dave Drury, who labored at Welbeck Colliery in Nottinghamshire, mentioned he was indignant on the minister’s feedback.
“It is simply any individual sat down with a pen who simply must signal that off,” he mentioned.
“In all probability 2,000 miners a yr are dying of previous age and respiratory mining-related illnesses.
“They ain’t acquired time to attend. It is six-a-day I believe it really works out at. So whoever’s acquired the pen, get it signed.”
After 14 years on the coalface, Mr Drury grew to become a coaching officer for a yr and his pension was transferred from the MPS to the BCSSS.
“We had been all preventing collectively, however I do suppose it is so simple as somebody’s seemed down at a bit of paper and seen ‘mineworkers’ pensions’ and so they’ve added the phrase ‘scheme’ on the top,” he mentioned.
“And including that phrase ‘scheme’ has excluded the BCSSS.”
Of the roughly 40,000 BCSSS members, about 40% are girls.
Kim Smith, who labored on the Coal Board, primarily based in Mansfield, mentioned: “It isn’t authorities cash, it is not taxpayers’ cash, it is the scheme members’ cash and we’ll like that cash again to enhance our lifestyle.
“We’re dropping 5 or 6 members a day so every single day that this will get dragged out extra individuals are not going to learn and I do not suppose that is truthful.”
Mansfield’s Labour MP Steve Yemm – whose constituency accommodates the very best variety of BCSSS members within the nation – additionally questioned why it was taking so lengthy.
“This requires a signature by a civil servant to signal over the reserve, and I can not actually perceive why it could take any size of time to do this,” he mentioned.
Yemm was one among 41 Labour MPs from coalfield constituencies who wrote a letter to Darren Jones in January, warning “the matter of securing pension justice for mining communities stays incomplete”.
“We urge you to prioritise this challenge and handle it immediately,” they added.
Darren Jones argued there have been numerous points nonetheless to be resolved.
He mentioned: “You have to do the work round how a lot cash is within the scheme, how a lot is assured for pensioners, what is the threat profile.
“All of these conversations for the Mineworkers’ Pensions Scheme had occurred earlier than the election…which is why we might transfer shortly.”
Jones confirmed that the federal government was in “energetic conversations” with the BCSSS trustees and requested if that meant there could be an announcement within the subsequent Funds, he mentioned: “That might be a time to concentrate, sure.”
