Oral Answers to Questions

Lillian Jones Excerpts

Tuesday 17th December 2024 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Lillian Jones (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab)]

1. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the mineworkers' pension scheme on the living standards of recipients.

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney) (Lab)]

2. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the mineworkers’ pension scheme on the living standards of recipients.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)]

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. That has meant an extra 32% rise in people’s pensions each month—an average of £29 per week. The overturning of that historic injustice demonstrates the difference made by a Labour Government.

[Lillian Jones]

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.

[Ed Miliband]

I should say that the praise all goes to the Minister for Industry, my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon West (Sarah Jones), for the progress that has been made. She is in sole charge of the issue. I know that she has been engaging with the trustees of the BCSSS; indeed, I believe she met them yesterday. She knows the point my hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Lillian Jones) is making about that scheme.