MINERS PENSION FUND SURPLUSES

Early day motion 184, tabled 10 January 2001 by Michael Clapham (Labour). Signed by 129 members.

That this House welcomes the Coalfield Communities Campaign supplementary report on the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme Fund; notes that the Treasury is set to take yet another £525 million windfall under the arrangements which were put in place by the Tory Government when the coal industry was privatised in 1994; and, in view of the modest risk now involved, asks Her Majesty's Government to seriously consider the latest valuation and the view of the Trustees that the 50-50 split should be looked at again and adjust the division in a fairer way, leaving more for the 300,000 pensioners, including 28,000 of the oldest and longest serving miners who receive less than £10 per week and also to plough back a larger proportion of the surplus received into the regeneration of coalfield communities.

Signatures by party: Labour 109, Labour/Co-operative 9, Liberal Democrat 5, Plaid Cymru 2, Independent 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1, Unknown 1.