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News Release 30th January 2004MINERS' PENSIONSFollowing a meeting held today (Friday 30th January) in Burntwood with more than 30 ex-miners from the Cannock coal fields, Michael Fabricant says "On the face of it, it looks as if the Government is raiding the miners' pension schemes on a scale not seen since the days of Robert Maxwell. Hundreds of millions of pounds are being siphoned annually from two miners' pension funds into Government coffers - I am not convinced of the legitimacy of this". Michael has offered to take the following immediate course of action: "I will now do a series of things. I will ask the appropriate minister at the Department of Trade and Industry to spare an hour or so to meet with some of these ex miners in London, listen to what they have to say, and explain the Government's position. "I will also contact the Chairman of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee and ask him whether he will task the National Audit Office to implement an independent investigation into this issue. And finally, I will table some Parliamentary Questions to elicit further information about the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme and the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme. "I am grateful to local miners for contacting me about this. If there is an injustice, it must not be allowed to continue" says Michael. "Indeed, there may even be a case for compensation for funds seized over the last few years. I hope the National Audit Office will be able to get to the bottom of this matter". |
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