LONDON, Dec. 23 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

* Almost 40,000 former mineworkers across the UKreceivefirst pension increase,withan average uplift of £100 a weekand one-off £5,500 lump sum * Followsthe government's decision totransfer £2.3billion to members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme * Governmenthasnow deliveredjusticefor all members of the former British Coal pension schemes

Britain's formermineworkers aretoday (Tuesday 23 December) receivingon averagean extra£100 to their weeklypensionpayment.

Thefirst41%paymentboostfollows the Chancellor's announcementatBudget that the government has transferred the £2.3 billion reserve, previously held by government since 1994, to members of theBritish Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS).

The increase will land inmembers'pockets just in time for Christmas, ensuring formercollieryworkersand staff, who helped power the country for decades,finally get the just rewards from their labour.

With payments backdated to November 2024 when the increase to the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme was implemented, members should today receive a £5,500 lump sum on average.

The BCSSS schemerepresentsformercoal minersas wellasthosewho workedin non-mining rolesat collieriesacross the UK,including engineers, managers,canteenworkersand administrators- withmore than5,000 women part of the scheme,representing13% ofmembers.

Lastyear the government transferred£1.5 billion tomembers of theMineworkers' Pension Scheme, supportingmore than 100,000 membersacross the UK.

Itmeans that the government hasnowdelivereda pension upliftfor all members of the former British Coal pension schemes.

Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero, Ed Miliband said:

I want to pay tribute to all themineworkers and all the campaigners involved in ending this decades-long injustice.

Today, thousands will rightly see a 41% uplift in their pension paymentjust before Christmas-providingthem with theretirement theydeserve.

Cheryl Agius Chair of Trustees of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, said:

This is a historic moment - the result of a year of determination, advocacy and collaboration - and it marks a turning point for the Scheme.

The government has listened to the Trustees, Scheme members, and Coalfield MPs that have supported this issue, and agreed to transfer the Scheme's investment reserve to members.Being able to make the first bonus pension increase today, brings BCSSS members into line with their former colleagues in the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme (MPS), who received their investment reserve in November last year.

Our members have been key to helping us raise this issue with the government over the last twelve months and the Trustees would like to thank them for their support.

Thegovernment will meet with Trustees of the BCSSS in the New Year toagreea way forward with surplus sharing arrangements.

The governmentisdrivingforward itscleanenergysuperpowermission, funded byover£62billionof record private investmentannouncedsince July 2024 and historic levels of government funding, to revitalise industrial heartlands across the UK - including in the coal mining areas that once powered the nation.

Theclean energy sectorwill employmore than 800,000peopleby 2030,as set out inthe government'sClean Energy Jobs Plan,an increase of over 400,000 from2023.

These well-paid clean energy jobs will be delivered across the UK, meaning people will have access to these opportunities in their hometowns - boosting local investment and delivering economic benefits to communities that have previouslybeenleft behind.

Notes to editors

The British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS),is one of the largest occupational pension schemes in the UK, providing benefits for40,000 pensioners and deferred members. In 1994 the Scheme was closed following the privatisation of the coal industry - under the Coal Industry Act 1994.

BCSSS members receiving an uplift in payments across UK regions:

* Wales:3,876 * Scotland:2,581 * North-East:4,234 * North-West:1,738 * Yorkshire & Humber:10,470 * East Midlands:9,883 * West Midlands:3,586 * South-East:988 * South-West:693 * London:376

Total:38,425

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.