News Release

13th February 2004

AUDIT OFFICE ASKED TO INVESTIGATE MINER'S PENSIONS

The Chairman of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, Edward Leigh MP, has written to Michael Fabricant telling him that he has now asked the National Audit Office to investigate miners' pensions.

This follows a meeting Michael had at the end of January with retired miners from the Cannock area coal fields when he was told of hundreds of millions of pounds which are being seized by Gordon Brown's Treasury each year from two miners' pensions funds. Michael now says "I wrote to the Public Accounts Committee as I promised at the meeting and I am delighted that its Chairman has now agreed to ask the National Audit Office to investigate the case.

"The NAO might say that there is no case to answer after a preliminary investigation or they may well initiate a full scale inquiry. I and the miners must now wait for their response. I hope they will proceed with an investigation. Meanwhile, I am also waiting to hear from Government ministers whether they will meet with a delegation of ex-miners from my constituency to discuss their pensions." Mr Fabricant adds.