Whitehaven ex-miner calls for ‘unjust’ pension payment change

A former miner who is among those missing out on extra pension payments is calling for the government to address the “injustice”.

A pension boost for those signed up to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme (MPS) was announced in last week’s Budget, to address what Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called a “scandal” in historic management of the fund.

Dave Cradduck, who spent 20 years working at Haig Pit in Whitehaven, Cumbria, said it was “unjust” that “not a penny” would be given back to those on a different scheme.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said the pension funds operated differently and it “must consider the two schemes separately”.

When coal mining was privatised in 1994, the government agreed to guarantee miners’ pensions.

It also said it would put aside some of the pension fund profits, in case the fund did not have enough money in it later.

Ex-miners had campaigned for years for money to be returned to them and the government has now pledged to return about £1.5bn to 112,000 former coalminers and their families.

It only applies to those who were part of the MPS and not those, like Mr Cradduck, who were signed up to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS).

Mr Cradduck said it was “immoral and unjust”.

The 77-year-old said the government had taken £4.8bn out of the MPS fund, and £3.2bn out of BCSSS, therefore those on the scheme were also owed money.

Mr Cradduck, who worked in the pit’s ventilation department ensuring the flammable gas underground was kept to safe levels, added: “I greatly wonder whether they’ll ever do anything about it.

“It’s not their money, it’s our money – we just want our own money back.

“Is that too much to ask?”

Mr Cradduck said although promises about the pension fund had been made by previous governments, this was the first time any money was going to be paid out.

“They obviously think it’s an injustice, and if it is, why isn’t the other scheme treated as an injustice as well?”

Those affected are writing to MPs to ask for their concerns to be raised in Parliament.

A DESNZ spokesman said it was open to considering any proposals for changes from the trustees of the BCSSS.

They added: “The BCSSS operates in a different way to the MPS, with the government taking no money from the scheme’s surpluses.

“All of that surplus is used purely to fund future pensions.”