§ Mr. TrickettTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many trustees of the Miners Pension Scheme are employees of his Department; and what reports they have submitted to him concerning the current actuarial review of the scheme. [111574]
§ Mrs. LiddellFive of the 10 members of the corporate trustee body of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme (MPS) are appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in his role as guarantor to the Scheme. One of these five Secretary of State appointees is a Departmental official. I have received no reports on the actuarial review of the MPS which, I understand, is still under way.
§ Mr. TrickettTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will use his powers under the Miners Pension Scheme to enable the scheme's trustees to reduce the retirement age of working miners to the age of 50. [111507]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe Trustees of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme are currently awaiting the results of a recent actuarial valuation. They will no doubt consider a wide range of options for allocating any surplus which emerges for distribution to beneficiaries. These could include retirement terms for all deferred members of the Scheme including working miners. I shall consider any proposals that the Trustees may make.