John Healey MP welcomes the news that the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has taken the decision to return the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) investment reserve to members. 755 members are set to benefit from the return of the reserve across Rawmarsh and Conisbrough.
The decision taken today to return the £2.3 billion investment reserve means that members will receive an average uplift of £100 per week, which is a 41% boost to the annual pensions of 40,000 former mineworkers.
Delivering justice has been a long fight. John Healey has spent nearly three decades championing coalfield communities in Rotherham, Doncaster, and Barnsley, and has consistently stood up for local mineworkers.
Just this year, the local Labour MP has held repeated meetings with BCSSS Trustees and personally wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and appropriate ministers, urging that the reserve be handed back to its members.
Today’s announcement follows the decision taken last year by the Labour government to rewrite the injustice of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme, with 2,264 ex-miners and their families across the Rawmarsh and Conisbrough constituency receiving a 32% boost to their pensions.
John Healey, Member of Parliament for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, said:
“I am very pleased to see the investment reserve returned to scheme members.
“For too long former miners in Rawmarsh and Conisbrough have been denied the pension settlement they deserve.
“Today’s decision puts that right. I am proud that Labour has ended this injustice and taken the decision to deliver what is rightfully owed back to mining families.
“Many local mineworkers have campaigned tirelessly for this, and I know they’ll welcome this result.”