Christmas windfall for ex-colliery workers

THOUSANDS IN EAST MIDLANDS REAP BENEFITS OF CAMPAIGN

- By STAFF REPORTER

ALMOST 40,000 former mineworkers across the UK have been given an early Christmas present with a boost to their weekly pensions.

As of today, all members of the former British Coal pension schemes will see an average uplift of £100 a week and a one-off £5,500 lump sum.

It includes 9,883 former colliery workers in the East Midlands.

The payment boost follows the Chancellor's announcement at Budget that the government has transferred the £2.3 billion reserve, previously held by government since 1994, to members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS).