Mansfield MP says miners’ pension surpluses must be settled in the budget

Mansfield MP Steve Yemm has called on the Government to act on proposals for the future of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in the upcoming Budget.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Mr Yemm asked the Leader of the House to press the Government to address proposals set out by the trustees of both schemes.

The proposals cover how future surpluses can benefit the thousands of scheme members in Mansfield and across the country.

"Would the Leader of the House press the Government to address those trustee proposals in the October Budget, so that former mineworkers and their families can receive that fair and sustainable settlement that they fought for, for many decades?, " he said.

Responding, the Leader of the House, Sir Alan Campbell, paid tribute to Mr Yemm as "an ardent campaigner for former mine workers" and said he had raised an important point. He added: "If he gives me further details, I'll make sure that the Chancellor receives them and hears what he's saying.”

Mansfield has more members of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme (MPS) and British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) combined than any other constituency in the country.

Mr Yemm will continue to press the case when he leads an adjournment debate on the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in the House of Commons on Wednesday 21 October

The Labour Government has already returned almost £4 billion from the schemes' Investment Reserves. That includes £1.5 billion transferred to MPS members in November 2024, and £2.3 billion to BCSSS members, who received their first increase in December 2025.

In recent weeks, the trustees of both schemes have put forward proposals so that, where it is financially responsible, future surpluses can benefit members.

Mr Yemm said: "The transfer of the Investment Reserves was a significant step in correcting a long-standing injustice, and it has made a real difference to former mineworkers and their families in Mansfield. However, the question of future surpluses remains unresolved."

"The trustees of both schemes have now set out credible proposals for how those surpluses can benefit members. I raised this in Parliament because the upcoming Budget gives the Government a clear opportunity to act on them."

"Like so many families in Mansfield, mine has a proud history in the coal industry. Former mineworkers paid into these schemes throughout their working lives, and they and their families deserve a settlement that is fair, sustainable and final."