Back in 1994 the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme was privatised. At the time it was agreed the government would get 50% of any surplus from the fund in return for a guarantee the value of the pensions would not decrease.

The government have since received £4.4bn so far from the deal. The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee called for this arrangement to be changed, and £1.2bn be given back to the fund which would result in an increase of £14 a week to retired miners.

Despite this, the government, including the Prime Minister Boris Johnson have rejected these suggestions. Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed and Minister of State for Business, Energy, and Clean Growth, wrote to say the arrangement in 1994 remains fair despite the miners seeing no rise in their pension while the government take away hundreds of millions from the scheme each year.

It is time the retired mineworkers, who risked their lives working in treacherous conditions, were given back what is rightly theirs. Write to Anne-Marie Trevelyan now urging her to re-think this decision.