Question
T5. Real progress was made in the Budget on the former mineworkers’ pensions, and I am very grateful to the Chancellor and the rest of the team for that, but there is more to do and time is pressing. Our mineworkers did incredibly difficult jobs in very challenging environments and kept the lights on for all of us—they deserve every penny of their pensions. Can the Chancellor tell me when we can expect an update on the release of the remaining funds?
Answer
I know my hon. Friend welcomes the step I took at the Budget that guarantees that every penny of the pension fund surplus will now go in full to miners. I know the job is not done; I will go on to ensure the full transfer of the guarantors fund. I want a way to resolve this in weeks, not months. That work is under way. It will be done jointly by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Treasury. I will ensure that my hon. Friend and other Members across this House from mining communities like mine are fully updated on that work.
Verdict: AMBER (30/100)
The question asked when an update on the remaining pension funds would be provided. The reply says the matter should be resolved "in weeks, not months" and that work is under way jointly between DESNZ and the Treasury, with the MP to be fully updated. However, it gives no date or committed timeframe for that update itself, so the core of the question is only partly answered and in hedged terms. The person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up to get a specific date.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| When the Chancellor expects to provide an update on the release of the remaining funds for former mineworkers' pensions. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The question asks when an update on the remaining pension funds will come, and the reply gives only a loose aspiration to resolve the matter "in weeks, not months" with no date for the update itself. The statements that the work is under way, is joint between DESNZ and the Treasury, and that the MP will be fully updated are relevant but do not set a timing for that update. |