Coal hearted

WE’VE all agreed to what seemed a good idea at the time, only to regret it later.

When British Coal was privatised in 1994 the then government guaranteed its pension schemes, meaning the retirement incomes of 200,000 mineworkers were protected.

But the funds have done so well that coldhearted ministers have mined £4.4billion from them without putting a penny in. And today the Sunday Mirror reveals that the Treasury’s latest windfall is a phenomenal £617million.

The Government might say a deal is a deal. Natural justice says enough is enough.

Miners worked hard for their money and paid a packet for their pensions. It is now time they got the full benefit.

Claire Perry is the minister now in charge of this. She says she is revising the arrangement.

We trust, Ms Perry, you will revise upwards in favour of retired miners and their families.