It is fair that many miners are now set to benefit

Alan Johnson, Durham NUM

But Mr Wilson said those involved in violence or intimidation during the bitter and prolonged strike would not benefit from the new move.

In a Commons written reply, Mr Wilson said the best way forward was to "enhance the pensions of these miners in recognition of the years of further service they lost as a result of British Coal's decision not to re-employ them".

Offenders excluded

The costs will be met from the residual assets of British Coal.

He said: "I would emphasise that those whose offences involved serious acts of violence or intimidation, or actions which jeopardised the safety of others will not qualify for this enhancement of pension."

Alan Johnson of Durham National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) executive told BBC News Online: "At the time there were miners being sacked willy-nilly, often for nothing at all really.

"At the time we were able to get some back into the pension scheme and others back into work.

"However there were many who not only lost their jobs but also lost their pension rights.

Written details

"It is fair that now many are set to benefit. But I would like there to be clarification as to what the government is classifying as violence.

"If it is breaking equipment above ground, where nobody was injured, then I would not classify that as violence."

More than 100,000 miners took part in the bitter strike, which divided communities and the NUM, and brought strikers into confrontation with the police and government.

Mr Wilson told MrJones he would shortly be writing to interested parties with details of how the new scheme would work.

The Department of Trade and Industry said there would be negotiations to decide what constituted "violent conduct".