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Letter to the Chancellor - BCSSS

I have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to press the case for members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS), including many here in Newcastle-under-Lyme.


Since my election, I’ve heard from constituents who dedicated their working lives to powering our country through Britain’s coal industry – people who rightly expect fairness and recognition for their service.


Since the Labour Government took office in July 2024, important progress has been made to deliver justice for those in the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme – but that work cannot stop there. Members of the BCSSS also deserve to see their contribution acknowledged and their future safeguarded.


As West Midlands Lead for the Group of Coalfields MPs, I’m working closely with colleagues to ensure the Treasury listens to the experiences and concerns of former coal industry staff. We are united in making the case for fair treatment across all schemes and continued investment in coalfield regeneration through the Coalfield Regeneration Trust.


This is about more than pensions – it’s about recognising the generations of people whose skill, hard work and determination helped power our country and built the communities we are proud to represent today.


I will continue to raise this issue in Parliament and work with Ministers to deliver the justice our coalfield communities deserve.


Read my letter to the Chancellor below:


Dear Chancellor, Re: British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme Further to my letter to you earlier this year, I write again on behalf of a number of my constituents in Newcastle-under-Lyme. They were and are loyal, hard-working members of the British Coalfield Staff Superannuation Scheme, kept the lights on and powered our country with such knowledge, skill and - yes - tenacity. I very much welcome the action this Labour Government has taken on the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme, since the July 2024 General Election, but there is more to do to support former miners and their families in Newcastle-under-Lyme and across England. When we speak of "mineworkers' pensions", we refer to all those who contributed to the coal industry: from those in the pits, all the way up to the teams on the surface, and everything in between. We must secure justice for all former British coal workers, whether they be members of the Mineworkers Pension Scheme or the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme. It is vital that we act in the coming weeks and all my discussions have led me to the Treasury. I cannot stress enough how much this matters to so many people in coalfield communities like mine in North Staffordshire and right across the United Kingdom. You know from your visits to our county; that fairness, hard work, and decency are what good, North Staffordshire people are made of – and they deserve justice. As the West Midlands Lead on the Group of Coalfields MPs, I know I speak for many colleagues and the fierce sense of determination and pride of the people who sent us to Parliament to speak up for them. Moreover, I hope, too, that there will be very serious consideration given to my calls for support for the Coalfield Regeneration Trust at the appropriate fiscal opportunity. As the Coalfield Group of MPs, we have engaged with the Trustees of the BCSSS and will continue to press this important case and deliver the justice our people deserve. Yours sincerely, Adam Jogee MP

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