Following a meeting held today (Friday 30th January) in Burntwood with more
than 30 ex-miners from the Cannock coal fields, Michael Fabricant says "On
the face of it, it looks as if the Government is raiding the miners’ pension
schemes on a scale not seen since the days of Robert Maxwell. Hundreds of
millions of pounds are being siphoned annually from two miners’ pension
funds into Government coffers – I am not convinced of the legitimacy of
this".

Michael has offered to take the following immediate course of action: "I
will now do a series of things. I will ask the appropriate minister at the
Department of Trade and Industry to spare an hour or so to meet with some of
these ex miners in London, listen to what they have to say, and explain the
Government’s position.

"I will also contact the Chairman of the House of Commons Public Accounts
Committee and ask him whether he will task the National Audit Office to
implement an independent investigation into this issue. And finally, I will
table some Parliamentary Questions to elicit further information about the
British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme and the Mineworkers’ Pension
Scheme.

"I am grateful to local miners for contacting me about this. If there is an
injustice, it must not be allowed to continue" says Michael. "Indeed,
there may even be a case for compensation for funds seized over the last few
years. I hope the National Audit Office will be able to get to the bottom
of this matter".