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 | | Friday, 18 January, 2002, 14:20 GMT Retired miners get cash payment  Some retired miners will receive �2,000 Thousands of retired miners across the UK are to receive special one-off payments of between �200 and �2,000 each under a �90m government package. Energy Minister Brian Wilson said the payments were aimed at helping miners who had to manage on "modest" pensions. Up to 66,000 ex-miners who worked before or shortly after 1975 will benefit from the payout. "The announcement will provide relief for some of the UK's poorest coal pensioners," Mr Wilson said. He said some pensioners had very low incomes because of the "very modest" industry pension scheme until 1975. Government 'spin' But a Scottish National Party MSP criticised the payout, saying the government already takes half of the profits from the miner's pension scheme and puts it in the Treasury every year. Tricia Marwick, who represents the Fife constituency, said: "The money being paid out to the miners is money that belonged to the miners.
"It is money that was stolen from them by the Treasury in the first place under arrangements put in place by the Tories and continued by Labour," she said. "I welcome any increase in miners' pensions however it is downright dishonest of Brian Wilson to spin that he has somehow provided more money for the miners," Ms Marwick said. She said the Treasury has taken �4bn of the miners' own money to top up the Treasury coffers. Payments soon The payouts will be funded from the government's share of the mineworkers' pension scheme reserves. Andrew Smith, the chief secretary of the treasury, said: "We are delivering on our promise of a better deal for former miners, with extra help for those with low pensions." "At the same time, we are committed to helping regenerate Britain's former mining communities and to helping former miners with industrial diseases," he said. Most of the miners will receive the one-off payment in May, with all the payments being made within 18 months. The amount of the payment will depend on the miner's length of service and current pension. | | See also:  Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top England stories now:  Links to more England stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||
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