MINEWORKERS PENSION SCHEME

That this House believes the Government should enter into open and fair negotiations with the Mineworkers Pension Scheme Trustees; recognises the 50-50 surplus sharing arrangement is grossly disproportionate for the Government guarantee; believes that the scheme should solely operate for the benefit of its members who contributed to the fund and worked in some of the most dangerous conditions to the detriment of their health; notes that successive governments have taken significant dividends in excess of £8 billion from the fund which would have otherwise improved the pensions and quality of life for former mineworkers; and, in view of the sums taken from the fund, calls on the Government to reach a fairer surplus sharing agreement to benefit former mineworkers.