Ex-miners in pension attack

A former miners' association in Cannock has penned an open letter to a government minister hitting out at what they say is "legalised theft" of miners' pensions.

In the letter to energy minister Malcolm Wicks the Cannock Chase Retired Miners and Officials' Association call for a re-think and further talks to try to strike a fairer deal for the area's former miners.

The call comes after Mr Wicks rejected talks with the Coalfield Group of MPs, which includes Cannock MP Tony Wright.

In a letter to Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant, Mr Wicks described the existing pension scheme, in which the government guarantees the fund but with conditions, as "fair.

But ex-miners claim the government has taken billions of pounds out of the scheme with more than 24,000 miners receiving a pension of a £10 a week or less.

Mick Westwood, author of the letter, accused the minister of not answering questions raised and highlighted numerous incidents where Labour attacked the pension scheme in opposition.

In the letter Mr Westwood said: "Why have you not honoured your parties broken promise?"

He added: "We, the retired miners and electorate are angry that the Labour Party have not honoured any of the promises that they have made to us since 1996.

"You, and your preceding ministers have always ducked the issue and have continued the legalised theft of miners money."