Calls for miners' pensions to be reformed

Former County Durham miner Bert Moncur said many miners were dying in poverty

A County Durham MP has urged the government to address "past injustices" and reform mineworkers' pensions.

Labour's Grahame Morris, who represents Easington, accused ministers of neglecting deprived communities, with some retired miners receiving just £10 a month under the current scheme.

On Wednesday, former miners and their families marched on Downing Street, claiming some were "dying in poverty".

The government said pension scheme members had received payments that were 33% higher than they would have been, due to a guarantee they would go up with inflation.

In 1994, a privatisation agreement was signed meaning the government would get half of any surplus cash from a miners' pension scheme, in return for guaranteeing that pensions would increase.

The government confirmed it had received £4.8bn from the scheme over the last 30 years.

Campaigners believe the figure is closer to £8bn, and marched to Downing Street to demand the surplus cash back.

There are about 150,000 people who are part of the miners' pension scheme

Former miners said, after a tough working life, they did not expect to spend their retirement campaigning.

Bert Moncur, a former Murton Colliery miner, said: "When you look at a widow who hasn't got enough money to bury her husband, there's nothing there for these people.

"Many miners are dying in poverty, in this day and age, this should not be happening."

In a speech on Thursday, MP Grahame Morris said former mining communities have never fully recovered

Mr Morris told the Commons on Thursday: "My father died in the belief that his pit pension would provide security for my aging mother - who is incidentally celebrating her 88th birthday on Sunday.

"However, we do know that some pensioners receive as little as £10 a week from the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme. Our miners created the wealth that made this country great, with the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme being amongst the UK's largest pension funds."

He continued: "This money should be used to enhance pensions, it wouldn't only provide extra security in retirement, but would support our local economies, coalfield communities, employment and small businesses."

The government added members of the scheme also received bonuses in addition to their guaranteed pensions.

Additional reporting by PA Media