MINEWORKERS PENSION SCHEMES

Early day motion 453, tabled 29 February 2000 by John Cummings (Labour). Signed by 53 members.

That this House calls upon the Government to invite the trustees of the Mineworkers Pension Schemes to enter into immediate negotiations to seek a favourable adjustment of surpluses of the funds to enable an enhancement of benefits to members of the BCSSS and the MPS, especially the 28,000 pensioners who receive a pension of £10 per week or less; recognises that the 50 per cent. government clawback of the current surpluses is unrealistic and an affront to former mineworkers, in view of the modest risk now involved with the funds owing to the continuing decline in the numbers of beneficiaries drawing pensions; and believes that a proportion of the Government percentage should be directed into former coalfield areas for the benefit of coalfield communities.

Signatures by party: Labour 43, Liberal Democrat 4, Labour/Co-operative 3, Scottish National Party 2, Plaid Cymru 1.