Ex-mineworkers name on UK authorities to launch pension reserves

BBC A white man with short grey hair and a green fleece sitting down — Lindsey Hopkins feels ex-miners have been “thrown on the scrapheap”

Former Welsh mineworkers are urging the UK authorities to launch £2.3bn in reserves from their pension scheme so it may be paid out.

The federal government launched the equal cash from the Mineworkers Pension Scheme (MPS) within the price range in October, however the cash continues to be frozen for these within the different pension scheme, the British Coal Employees Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS).

Lindsey Hopkins, 75, is among the greater than 3,000 former miners that may very well be affected and mentioned the federal government had “thrown us to the wolves” by not treating each schemes in the identical method.

The Division for Vitality and Internet Zero mentioned it was to debate the matter with the Treasury.

Mr Hopkins began work on the Merthyr Vale colliery and continued within the business till 2010 in personal mines after privatisation.

He retired at 60 as a consequence of sick well being, with points together with chest and joint issues.

He mentioned he was “very bitter” that the BCSSS reserves had not been launched to pensioners.

“Coal, metal and iron put this nation the place it’s and take a look at us now – they’ve thrown us on the scrapheap,” he mentioned.

Mr Hopkins mentioned he felt successive governments had mistreated miners and their pensions.

“I’ve received no confidence within the authorities. Whichever authorities is in I’ve received no confidence. They have their claws on it and they are going to hold it fairly than give it to another person.

“It isn’t theirs it is ours.”

BCSSS trustee Bleddyn Hancock says ex-miners have “suffered, bled and died” for the cash

A white man with short grey hair and glasses standing in front of a housing beneath a mountain — BCSSS trustee Bleddyn Hancock says ex-miners have “suffered, bled and died” for the cash

Beneath an settlement signed 30 years in the past, the federal government has been entitled to half the excess money in return for guaranteeing its worth, though no cash has been taken since 2015.

Earlier Labour manifestos have mentioned that the reserves of each MPS and BCSSS pensions can be launched, nevertheless the 2024 manifesto solely talked about MPS.

BCSSS pension trustee Bleddyn Hancock mentioned he believed it was an oversight, however one which urgently wanted to be corrected.

“That is one thing we really feel very strongly about,” he mentioned.

“We have earned this cash, we have needed to combat for the cash. We have suffered for it, we have bled for it and we have died for it.

“It is our cash and we would like the federal government to finish this injustice and return our cash to us.”

Mr Hancock mentioned the cash would improve the pensions of these within the BCSSS scheme by about fifty per cent at a time when many are combating the price of dwelling.

“We’re all previous. We’re not saving for the longer term. The wet day is right here now.”

Former Miner Leslie Davies requires motion to be taken “sooner fairly than later”

A man sitting down with short grey hair wearing a navy coat and scarf — Former Miner Leslie Davies requires motion to be taken “sooner fairly than later”

Leslie Davies, 77, from Nixonville in Merthyr Vale mentioned he was seeing former colleagues dying, and motion wanted to be taken quickly, and fairness was wanted between the 2 pension schemes.

“I do not know why they have not performed it as a result of all of us labored in the identical business and it is time they sorted our pension out sooner fairly than later,” he mentioned.

“We’re dying off as a bunch and there are males who is not going to have this pension. I do not know the way lengthy it should take to have it and there will be a couple of extra gone.”

Former miner Gareth Paine, 65, from Troedyrhiw mentioned he thought the federal government “hope we go away” however “on the finish of the day, all of us labored in the identical place and all of us took the identical dangers”.

Former miner Gareth Paine says miners “all took the identical dangers”

A man looks at the camera. He has dark hair and is wearing large thin-rimmed glasses. He has a white moustache and has a blue fleece, under which is a checked shirt. — Former miner Gareth Paine says miners “all took the identical dangers”

BCSSS trustees lately met business minister Sarah Jones, with Bleddyn Hancock saying it was a constructive assembly.

“She was very sympathetic, and I feel she’d love to do one thing about it, nevertheless the matter is now with the Treasury and we’re ready for his or her approval which I hope we’ll get, however it’s not a performed deal, so the extra stress we placed on the federal government to finish this injustice the higher,” he mentioned.

The Division of Vitality Safety and Internet Zero mentioned: “The British Coal Superannuation Scheme operates differently to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme, as agreed with the scheme trustees.

“Minister Jones lately met with the trustees of BCSSS and has dedicated to speaking to the Treasury about their proposals.”

“The federal government has taken no cash from the scheme’s surpluses since 2015. All of that surplus is used purely to fund future pensions.”

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