Cowdenbeath’s MP has welcomed a move to boost the pensions of former coal workers.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in last week’s budget that members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) would receive an increase of 40 percent, which works out at over £1,000 on average.
It will be done by transferring the £2.3 billion Mineworkers Pension Reserve to individuals and their families across the UK.
Melanie Ward, who represents the Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy constituency, said: “I am proud to be part of a government that is delivering pension justice for former coal board staff.
"Today’s announcement brings the number of my constituents who are former miners and coal board staff and are benefitting from pension justice to over 1,110 as a result of the return of both MPS and BCSSS investment reserves.
“Many of these men and women are from the villages that populate my constituency and once powered our country, before being so brutally abandoned by Thatcher and the Tories. I know this money in their pockets will make a real difference.
“I pay tribute to all the local campaigners who fought for this change. This Labour government is in investing in the sectors that will power our country in the future and investing in the people who powered our country in the past.”
The Labour politician represents 290 constituents who will benefit from the move, including campaigner Billy Ogg.
He said: "I am over the moon with the chancellor's announcement that the investment reserve will be returned to us members.
"This move delivers pension justice to so many former coal board staff and puts money in our pockets that will make a real difference.
"I'd like to thank the incredible hard work of Melanie Ward and other Labour coalfield MPs who have stood alongside us to get this over the line."
SNP MSP for Cowdenbeath, Annabelle Ewing commented: “It is, of course, really good news for former miners and other Coal Board employees that the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme will received the £2.3billion, but it remains an absolute disgrace that this money was held onto by success Westminster Governments, including the Blair and Brown Labour regimes, since 1994.
"How many pensioners have died in that time without receiving the full financial support they were due?
“Elsewhere in the budget, the key omission was the promised £300 cut in fuel bills. Bringing them down by a bit after they have soared by a lot is not a cut. It is smoke and mirrors to disguise empty words and broken promises.”
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