Written evidence submitted by Mr Anthony Austin (MPS0048)

1. I believe that the agreement on the surplus sharing arrangement reached at privatisation is legally questionable. The information that formed the basis of the decision making at the time the arrangements were agreed are vague and inconsistent.

2. The variations in the term of the scheme since 1994 have reduced the pensions of retired miners and widows causing unnecessary hardship. The surplus sharing arrangement has been a money pit for successive governments since 1994. To date almost five billion pounds taken by surplus sharing arrangements, should have topped up mine workers’ pensions. As many retired miners have died early due to industrial disease caused by the conditions of working in a mining industry.

3. Like myself, many surviving miners suffer with industrial diseases caused through working conditions in the mining industry. In my opinion the terms of the surplus sharing arrangements are unfair and only benefited successive governments.

4. I would like to see the surplus sharing arrangement of 50/50% changed to 100% in favour of the mineworker’s pensioners and widows and the 2billion pound interest accrued, to be shared amongst the surviving miners and widows of the pension scheme.

April 2021