A COALWORKERS’ pension scheme which MPs claimed was ‘pillaged’ by previous governments will be the latest to have cash returned to more than 2,000 Barnsley members, it was confirmed this week.

In the budget delivered to Parliament on Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) will see the investment reserve fund returned to them.

It follows another fund - the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme (MPS) - which gave ex-coalworkers another uplift.

Previous governments are estimated to have taken more than £3bn in dividends from the scheme, although £2.3bn remained tied up in a so-called ‘investment reserve’ which will now make its way back into local residents’ pockets as soon as December 23, the Chronicle can reveal.

A total of 41,000 members across the country will receive an uplift to their regular pension payments, meaning that they will be on average £100 better off per week.

Stephanie Peacock, the MP for Barnsley South, and Dan Jarvis, the MP for Barnsley North, have welcomed the ‘huge impact’ this will have on those across Barnsley who powered our nation.

They met with the ministers responsible to advocate the change delivered on Wednesday and most recently, they met with Treasury Minister, James Murray MP.

Stephanie said: “It is brilliant news that this Labour government has listened to BCSSS members from Barnsley and across the country and returned the investment reserve, giving a significant increase to the weekly pensions of those who powered our country.

“This will have a huge impact for members of the scheme across Barnsley.

“I have been pleased to call for change on this issue across Barnsley and in Parliament alongside other coalfields MPs, the trustees of the scheme, and campaign groups.

“It was great to meet with over 100 members of the scheme in Barnsley recently alongside Dan to discuss the changes that were needed, and take these concerns back to the ministers responsible for this.

“This is the difference that a Labour government makes: delivering the real change that people across Barnsley and beyond need.”

Under the agreement made when British Coal was privatised in 1994, a Crown guarantee was given to the two pension schemes under which, as well as having to fill any potential deficit, the Treasury got half of the surplus.

Previous governments have justified not sharing the reserve by saying it was only accumulated thanks to the Crown guarantee.

A total of 924 people in Barnsley South, 859 in Barnsley North and 336 in Penistone and Stocksbridge will be eligible.

Dan added: “Our town has a proud industrial heritage and that’s down to the hard graft of our mineworkers.

“We owe them our gratitude.

“It’s great to see that BCSSS members in Barnsley will now receive increased pensions following the government’s decision to transfer the scheme’s investment reserve to its trustees - something Stephanie and I have been campaigning for.

“Labour will always support our miners.

“We’ve boosted pensions, committed to an inquiry into Orgreave, and rolled out new support for former miners living with respiratory conditions.

“Our coalfield communities were previously abandoned - but not on our watch.”