This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3wqg9e08qjo
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Government to review second miners pension scheme | |
(2 months later) | |
Tens of thousands more former mineworkers could be set to benefit after the government announced it would review a controversial pension scheme. | Tens of thousands more former mineworkers could be set to benefit after the government announced it would review a controversial pension scheme. |
The chancellor used last month’s Budget to scrap a 30-year old arrangement that saw the government receive hundreds of millions of pounds a year from the Mineworkers Pension Scheme (MPS). | The chancellor used last month’s Budget to scrap a 30-year old arrangement that saw the government receive hundreds of millions of pounds a year from the Mineworkers Pension Scheme (MPS). |
The first instalment of the £1.5bn Rachel Reeves pledged to pay back will be made on Friday. | The first instalment of the £1.5bn Rachel Reeves pledged to pay back will be made on Friday. |
The government has now confirmed it will look at a second miners' pension after former pit managers in the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) challenged their exclusion from the new payments. | The government has now confirmed it will look at a second miners' pension after former pit managers in the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) challenged their exclusion from the new payments. |
Earlier this month, Dave Cradduck, who spent 20 years working at Haig Pit in Whitehaven, Cumbria, told the BBC it was "unjust" that "not a penny" would be given back to those on the BCSSS. | Earlier this month, Dave Cradduck, who spent 20 years working at Haig Pit in Whitehaven, Cumbria, told the BBC it was "unjust" that "not a penny" would be given back to those on the BCSSS. |
He said the government had taken £4.8bn out of the MPS fund, and £3.2bn out of BCSSS, so therefore those on that scheme were also owed money. | He said the government had taken £4.8bn out of the MPS fund, and £3.2bn out of BCSSS, so therefore those on that scheme were also owed money. |
At the time, a spokesperson for the Department for Energy gave no indication that any future changes would take place and said the government “must consider the two schemes separately". | At the time, a spokesperson for the Department for Energy gave no indication that any future changes would take place and said the government “must consider the two schemes separately". |
But the department has now announced it would “review any proposals set out by the Trustees of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme”. | But the department has now announced it would “review any proposals set out by the Trustees of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme”. |
Last week, the trustees asked ministers to hand back the £2.3bn investment reserve to members of the scheme. | Last week, the trustees asked ministers to hand back the £2.3bn investment reserve to members of the scheme. |
Both schemes were taken over by the government when British Coal was privatised in 1994. | Both schemes were taken over by the government when British Coal was privatised in 1994. |
The agreements were struck between the then-Conservative government and the scheme's trustees, in exchange for a government guarantee that the value of mineworkers' pensions would not decrease. | The agreements were struck between the then-Conservative government and the scheme's trustees, in exchange for a government guarantee that the value of mineworkers' pensions would not decrease. |
The recent reversal of the MPS arrangement will see 112,000 former miners’ pensions increased by a third. | The recent reversal of the MPS arrangement will see 112,000 former miners’ pensions increased by a third. |
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said it “marks an end to a decades-long injustice that has denied thousands across the country the decent pension that they so undeniably deserve”. | Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said it “marks an end to a decades-long injustice that has denied thousands across the country the decent pension that they so undeniably deserve”. |
Previous version
1
Next version