• Historic injustice reversed as 748 mineworkers and their families in East Durham finally have the investment reserve from their pension scheme transferred to them, boosting their pensions by an average of £100 a week.
• Labour delivers longstanding campaign ask from ex-pit workers, building on previous action taken on the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.
• Energy Secretary pays tribute to the “communities who powered our country” and the campaigners who pushed for action.

748 former mineworkers in East Durham 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 the Budget, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed that the move will mean a 41% 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.

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.

Grahame Morris MP, Chair of the Labour Group of Coalfield MPs said:

“Thank you to the campaigners, constituents, and coalfield MPs who have worked relentlessly over the last year as we lobbied for the return of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme £2.3bn Investment Reserve.

These achievements are never easy wins, they are hard-fought gains made possible only through the tireless dedication of thousands of people working toward a shared goal.

Everyone who worked in the coal industry deserves to see this long-standing injustice finally put right. I’m proud that Labour has made this a priority, and that 748 BCSSS pensioners in Easington will now receive a significant uplift to their pensions.”

Energy Secretary Ed 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.

Today, I am delighted that we are rightfully transferring the BCSSS investment reserve back to former mineworkers. I pay tribute to the campaigners who have fought for a fair deal – without them this would not have happened.”

Chris Kitchen, General Secretary of the NUM said:

“The NUM welcomes the BCSSS announcement in the Budget and the Labour Government’s recognition that there were two pension Schemes in the mining industry that suffered historic injustice which they have sought to correct.

The additional pensions this will provide will benefit not just the pensioner but our former mining communities devastated by the closure of our industry.

A commitment made, a commitment delivered.”