HC Deb 03 November 2003 vol 412 cc395-6W
Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will decide whether to extend the eligibility criterion for the lump sum payment to certain members of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme from five years' service to four years and six months' service; and if she will make a statement. [135589]

Mr. Timms

The intention of the scheme to help those MPS members on the lowest pensions who left British Coal before or shortly after 1975 is to address the problem of retired mineworkers who receive very low pensions in spite of lengthy service in the industry. For this reason, mineworkers with less than five years contributory service were excluded. I have no plans to revisit these criteria.

Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the tracing exercise to locate members of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme for whom no contact details are known will be completed; and if she will make a statement. [135590]

Mr. Timms

It is expected the tracing exercise will be completed by the end of the summer 2004.