§ 24. Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration he is giving to assist those mineworkers who are being declared redundant, yet, because they have not paid their national insurance 319W contributions for 12 months, are likely to lose unemployment benefits and entitlements from the redundant mineworkers' pension scheme; if he will liaise with the National Coal Board to find a solution to this problem; whether he will consider introducing a buy-back benefits scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ 25. Mr. Lofthouseasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to introduce amendments to the mineworkers' redundancy payment scheme to cover payments to miners who are made redundant in 1986.
§ Mr. David HuntI am considering whether changes to the present legislation governing the redundant mineworkers payments scheme would be appropriate given the failure of some mineworkers to pay sufficient national insurance contributions during the strike to qualify for unemployment benefit during benefit year 1986.