Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he expects discussions with Mineworkers' Pension Scheme trustees to conclude on the future of the surplus sharing arrangements.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Discussions with the scheme Trustees are ongoing and any announcements will be made in due course.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 38961 on British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme and Mineworkers' Pension Scheme, if he will set out the differences between the (a) Mineworkers Pension Scheme and (b) British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme referred to in that Answer.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The schemes operate in different ways. A key difference is that there is no surplus sharing arrangement in the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS).
The Government is considering proposals put forward by the BCSSS Trustees and needs to understand their impacts for both scheme members and the Government, in the same way as we are doing for the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme. The Government and BCSSS Trustees are working together to jointly commission analysis so that we can gain that understanding and work towards reaching agreement on a way forward.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason the investment reserves for the (a) Mineworkers Pension Scheme and (b) British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme were not transferred to members at the same time.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The transfer of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme investment reserve was a manifesto commitment which the Government has fulfilled. The BCSSS scheme has some differences to the MPS, but we are working with the BCSSS Trustees to consider their proposals.
Asked by: Jade Botterill (Labour - Ossett and Denby Dale)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the Mineworkers Pension Scheme on the living standards of the recipients of that pension in Ossett and Denby Dale constituency.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
At the end of November last year, the first uprated payments for the Mineworkers Pension Scheme landed for over 100,000 miners and their families. This is an average increase of 32% on their monthly payments (or an average additional £28/week).
Asked by: Jo White (Labour - Bassetlaw)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many people are in receipt of the Mineworkers Pension Scheme in each constituency.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Every constituency in the country has at least one person in receipt of the Mineworkers Pension Scheme. The number of scheme members in each constituency is listed in the table below. This information is from the scheme trustees and correct as at 30 October 2024. Some of these scheme members will not yet be in receipt of their pension, but we do not have a breakdown of that information at constituency level.
Asked by: Dave Robertson (Labour - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the Mineworkers Pension Scheme on the living standards of the recipients of that pension.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I am proud that we have finally ended the injustice of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme. Miners across the country powered our economy for decades, working in the toughest environments. They should not have had to fight so long for a fair pension. The party opposite had 14 years to end this injustice but did nothing. Within 4 months we have ended the scandal. That’s the difference a Labour government makes.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) returning the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme investment reserve to scheme members and (b) commissioning a review into future investment reserve surplus sharing arrangements.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has ended the injustice of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme (MPS) and agreed the transfer the Investment Reserve Fund to members, so that the mineworkers who powered our country receive a fairer pension.
The resulting bonus will increase pensions by 32% and should start to be paid in November. The Government will soon start talks with the MPS Trustees on the future arrangements for surplus sharing.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, on what dates his Department has met with trustees of the (a) British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme and (b) Mineworkers' Pension Scheme since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing surpluses to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in line with the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has fulfilled its manifesto commitment to transfer to the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme investment reserve to Members. I am open to considering options put forward by the Trustees for changes to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to return money the Government (a) has received and (b) will receive from the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme to mineworkers in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (ii) Staffordshire.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Pursuant to my answer to PQ UIN 5215 of 18 September 2024, our Manifesto committed to reviewing the surplus sharing arrangements and transferring the Investment Reserve back to scheme members. We are committed to ending the injustice of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and work on delivering these commitments is already underway.