Westminster

Here you can find any updates from Westminster.

I recently met with Minister for Industry, Chris McDonald MP, to urge the Government to strengthen retired miners’ pensions. The meeting between the BCSSS and MPS Trustees with Government representatives marked the start of a joint process to put the surplus sharing proposals into effect.

Since being elected in 2024, I have repeatedly spoken up on behalf of our retired miners, and for action to right this injustice. With almost one thousand miners across these schemes, I am acutely aware just how important this is to my constituency. I am pleased that steps are underway to step up the recognition and financial security to ex-miners and their families, who powered our nation for decades and who contributed so much to our community.

The enhancement is long-overdue and much-deserved by every BCSSS member – so I am hopeful that the positive impact of the uplift will soon be seen. I was encouraged that the Minister of Industry shared my view that pension benefits should be enhanced as much as possible, and I will continue to push Government colleagues to make this a reality as soon as it is feasible.

More broadly, I am glad the UK Government continues to press for investment into the UK’s former coalfield areas, and I will back this work wherever possible.