Mineworkers' Pension Scheme
Business and Trade Committee
Closed
Inquiry
The BEIS Committee is holding a short inquiry into the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme, and in particular the Scheme’s surplus sharing arrangements. When British Coal was privatised in 1994, an agreement was made between the Government and the Trustees of the Mineworkers Pension Scheme (MPS) on future arrangements for pensions. The …
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6
Recommendations
12
Conclusions
1
Report
2
Oral sessions
13
Letters
2
Events
Activity timeline 17 events
8 Jul
2021
2021
5 Jul
2021
2021
26 May
2021
2021
13 May
2021
2021
29 Apr
2021
2021
Report published
29 Apr
2021
2021
29 Apr
2021
2021
27 Apr
2021
2021
27 Apr
2021
2021
27 Apr
2021
2021
15 Apr
2021
2021
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
13 Apr 2021
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Oral evidence session
Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Sarah Munby · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
23 Mar 2021
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Mineworkers' Pension Scheme
Allen Young · Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme
Chris Cheetham · Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme
Chris Kitchen · National Union of Mineworkers
Dan Whincup · Coal Pension Trustees Ltd
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sixth Report - Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme | HC 1346 | 29 Apr 2021 | 18 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
5
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixth Report - Mineworkers’ Pensio…
The Government has not paid any funds into the Scheme since the surplus sharing arrangement...
The Government has not paid any funds into the Scheme since the surplus sharing arrangement was put in place in 1994. (Paragraph 23) Fairness of the current terms
Government Response
The government's response focuses on defending the fairness of the 1994 agreement and the risks it took on, but does not directly address the committee's specific finding that the government has not paid any funds into the Scheme since 1994.
Department for Business and Trade
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6
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixth Report - Mineworkers’ Pensio…
Many former mineworkers have chronic health issues directly related to their former occupation, and the...
Many former mineworkers have chronic health issues directly related to their former occupation, and the former coalfields are amongst the most deprived areas of the UK. Sadly, their numbers are also decreasing year by year. Over half of Scheme members …
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Government Response
The government's response defends the fairness of the 1994 pension agreement and the Trustees' autonomy, but does not address the committee's concerns about the chronic health issues and financial struggles faced by former mineworkers.
Department for Business and Trade
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8
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixth Report - Mineworkers’ Pensio…
Given that the Scheme has continued to produce strong returns despite the 2008 Financial Crisis...
Given that the Scheme has continued to produce strong returns despite the 2008 Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, there is little reason to believe the Government will be required to pay into the Scheme before it is wound-up. Even …
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Government Response
The government response consists only of a title and does not address the committee's conclusion regarding the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme's financial health and the likelihood of government contributions.
Department for Business and Trade
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9
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixth Report - Mineworkers’ Pensio…
Whether or not the Government knew in 1994 that it would disproportionately benefit from the...
Whether or not the Government knew in 1994 that it would disproportionately benefit from the arrangement, and whether all parties thought it was fair at the time, 24 Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme is irrelevant. It is patently clear today that the …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the historical context of miners' conditions and compensation but fails to address the conclusion that the 1994 pension arrangements have unduly benefited the government and are now untenable.
Department for Business and Trade
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10
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Sixth Report - Mineworkers’ Pensio…
Governments should not be in the business of profiting from mineworkers’ pensions.
Governments should not be in the business of profiting from mineworkers’ pensions. We are therefore disappointed by the Government’s argument that the 1994 agreement is a success because the public purse has had strong returns from it. The Government is …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the historical context of miners' conditions and compensation but does not address the conclusion that it should not profit from mineworkers' pensions or that the current arrangements conflict with levelling up goals.
Department for Business and Trade
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11
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Sixth Report - Mineworkers’ Pensio…
The Government is disingenuous in claiming the Trustees are content with the terms of the...
The Government is disingenuous in claiming the Trustees are content with the terms of the current arrangements. The Trustees have been clear that they are not - and never were - happy with the terms, and that they would welcome …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the historical conditions and its compensation for former miners, but does not address the committee's recommendation regarding the government's claims about the Trustees' contentment with the pension arrangements.
Department for Business and Trade
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12
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Sixth Report - Mineworkers’ Pensio…
We are disappointed by the Government’s dismissive approach to proposals to review the existing arrangement.
We are disappointed by the Government’s dismissive approach to proposals to review the existing arrangement. The Minister’s claim of openness is contrary to the approach successive governments have taken since 1994. The Government must approach any future discussions with the …
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Government Response
The government did not address the recommendation about approaching future discussions with an open mind, instead acknowledging the harsh conditions miners faced and past compensation efforts for health issues.
Department for Business and Trade
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13
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Sixth Report - Mineworkers’ Pensio…
With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear that the Government has already profited greatly...
With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear that the Government has already profited greatly from the Scheme. The Government must acknowledge that continuation of the arrangements in their current form deserves a review and a better outcome for pensions …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the historical context of coal miners' conditions and its compensation efforts but does not address the recommendation to review or replace the current pension arrangements.
Department for Business and Trade
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18
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Sixth Report - Mineworkers’ Pensio…
Our recommendations set out equitable arrangements which would go some way to redressing the sense...
Our recommendations set out equitable arrangements which would go some way to redressing the sense of historic injustice felt by the Scheme’s members. The Government must consider them carefully. (Paragraph 67) 26 Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme
Government Response
The government did not address the recommendation to carefully consider the committee's proposed equitable arrangements, instead referencing the Trustees' past preference to retain the guarantee and prioritising bonus protection.
Department for Business and Trade
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Correspondence 13 letters
8 Jul 2021
To committee
Letter from a member of the public relating to the British Coal Superannuation Scheme
Parliament page
26 May 2021
To committee
Letter from the Minister to the Chair relating to the Committee’s report on the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme
Parliament page
13 May 2021
To committee
Letter from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the Chair relating to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme
Parliament page
29 Apr 2021
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Chancellor of the Exchequer relating to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme
Parliament page
29 Apr 2021
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth relating to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme
Parliament page
27 Apr 2021
To committee
Letter from Jonathan Gullis MP on the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme
Parliament page
27 Apr 2021
Selected emails received by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee as part of the inquiry into the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme
Parliament page
27 Apr 2021
To committee
Letter from the Minister to the Chair on the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme
Parliament page
15 Apr 2021
To committee
Letter from Aaron Bell MP to the Chair regarding the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme
Parliament page
15 Apr 2021
To committee
Letter from The British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme to the Chair regarding pensions to former staff of British Coal
Parliament page
15 Apr 2021
To committee
Letter from Lee Anderson MP to the Chair regarding the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme
Parliament page
13 Apr 2021
To committee
Letter from the Trustees of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme in follow up to oral evidence given on 23 March
Parliament page
13 Apr 2021
To committee
Letter from Grahame Morris MP to the Chair regarding the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme
Parliament page