MORE than 1600 former mineworkers in Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney are set to benefit from an uplift to their pensions thanks to changes announced in Labour’s budget last week.

There are 1622 Mineworker Pension Scheme members in Blaenau Gwent & Rhymney, the highest number by constituency in Wales, followed by Rhondda & Ogmore (1481) and Merthyr Tydfil & Aberdare (1394).

In her budget on Wednesday, October 30^th Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the £1.5bn Mineworkers Pension Scheme Investment Reserve will be returned to members.

This means that a total of 13,156 pension scheme members across Wales will see a 32% increase to their annual pension, an average increase of £29 per week.

Nick Smith MP: “I come from a family of mineworkers, I know how important this is to put right. This will make a big difference to those 1622 pension scheme members in my constituency.”

Mr Smith has been one of the most prominent campaigners on securing a better deal for mineworkers in Parliament, as Rachel Reeves MP acknowledged in her announcement.

Mr Smith said: “My fellow coalfield MPs and I have been campaigning for a fairer deal for mineworkers for a long time, it is fantastic to see our Labour government righting this wrong and returning what is owed to mineworkers and their families.
“Miners spent decades working deep underground to keep our country running. I’m very pleased that they will now be justly rewarded.”