皇冠体育app

Over 100,000 former mineworkers across the UK will today get a boost to their pension 鈥� with people seeing an average 拢29 extra to their weekly payment.聽聽

皇冠体育app payment follows the government鈥檚 reversal of an historic injustice, leading to 拢1.5billion being transferred to their pension scheme last month.聽聽

Former mineworkers will receive the cash in their pockets today, ensuring former pit workers who powered the country for decades finally get the just rewards from their labour.聽

皇冠体育app uplift represents an average 32 per cent rise to the annual pensions of nearly 112,000 former mineworkers and their dependents across the UK 鈥� an average increase of 拢29 per week for each member.聽聽

Secretary of State for Energy Ed Miliband said:聽聽

This government has kept our promise to return money rightfully owned to the ex-miners and their families- and today thousands of people will receive the money they deserve in their pension as a result.

Today marks an end to a decades-long injustice that has denied thousands across the country the decent pension that they so undeniably deserve.

We have delivered on our promise to right this wrong and I hope members and their families are able to enjoy the victory that they have waited far too long for.

皇冠体育app Trustees of the Mineworker鈥� Pension Scheme, said:聽

This month marks a historic milestone for the members of our Scheme with the first instalment of pension resulting from the recent Investment Reserve transfer being paid.聽 As Trustees, we鈥檙e delighted that we鈥檝e been able to get this extra money into our members鈥� pockets so quickly.聽聽

This has been made possible due to the swift action of the government in making good on its manifesto commitment but also as a result of the hard work of the team that supports the Scheme.聽聽聽

We would also like to thank again the many members and MPs who have shown support of the Scheme on this matter over the years.聽 We are now looking forward to discussing our Scheme鈥檚 surplus sharing arrangements with the government in the coming months and sharing the outcome with our members as soon as we can.

皇冠体育app Energy Secretary and Minister for Industry Sarah Jones met members and trustees of the scheme in October at the National Union of Mineworkers鈥� headquarters in Barnsley, after the government delivered on a longstanding campaign ask from ex-pit workers to transfer the investment reserve of the Mineworkers鈥� Pension Scheme back to members.聽

When British Coal was privatised in 1994, the government agreed to take half of any surplus generated by the pension scheme, in return for a guarantee that pensions would increase in line with inflation.聽

皇冠体育app investment reserve fund was set up using profits from the scheme in 1992, to provide a buffer in case the Mineworkers鈥� Pension Scheme went into deficit. This money was due to be returned to government in 2029.聽聽

皇冠体育app government is now conducting a review of the surplus sharing agreement with the scheme trustees 鈥� ensuring miners and their families benefit for years ahead, with next steps to be set out in the coming months.聽

After delivering on the commitment for the Mineworkers鈥� Pension Scheme, the largest pension scheme for miners in the UK, the government has committed to review any proposals set out by the Trustees of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme 鈥� the pensions scheme for former pit managers, which is run on a different basis as the government takes no money from any surpluses.聽

In keeping homes warm and powering industry, mineworkers were the backbone of keeping the country going for decades.聽聽

Since July, the government has accelerated Britain鈥檚 transition, committing unprecedented investment in homegrown clean energy. To support workers, the government has also set up the Office for Clean Energy Jobs to help the next generation of skilled workers to access UK-wide job opportunities that the government鈥檚 clean energy superpower mission will help create.聽聽

Action includes lifting the ban on onshore wind, setting up Great British Energy and announcing a partnership with 皇冠体育app Crown Estate to accelerate offshore wind projects, approving four major solar farms, launching the Clean Energy Mission Control centre led by Chris Stark, securing a record pipeline of renewable projects in the latest auction and launching the UK鈥檚 first carbon capture sites.聽聽

Notes to editors

Members receiving an uplift in payments across UK regions:

• Wales: 13,156

• Scotland: 7,844

• North-East: 15,141

• North-West: 4,648

• Yorkshire & Humber: 29,376

• East Midlands: 28,828

• West Midlands: 8,805

• South-East: 1,683

• South-West: 924

• Eastern: 481

• London: 183

• Northern Ireland: 54

• Unknown: 271

Total: 111,394