Discussions to reform mineworkers' pension schemes by the new Labour government have been welcomed by a County Durham MP.

Easington MP Grahame Morris has praised reassurance that the government will be meeting with Mineworkers' Pension Scheme trustees following a commitment to reform the pension scheme that sees some miners receive just £10 a month.

This comes months after Mr Morris organised a demonstration on Downing Street and led a parliamentary debate in support of retired mineworkers.

Before the debate on May 9, he said: "Pensioners are dying in poverty, and it's unacceptable for the government to be complicit by taking money out of the pension scheme. Retired miners deserve security in retirement.

“The majority of retired miners live in former coalfield communities. Enhancing their pensions injects more funds into the regional economy, increasing local spending bolstering business, and employment, and supporting levelling-up.

"I cannot comprehend the Government’s opposition and blocking these reforms reinforces the Conservative Party’s hostility towards miners and coalfield communities which they still view as the enemy within."

Now, in response to a parliamentary question from Mr. Morris on July 22, Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, confirmed the scheme is on the radar of senior politicians.

She stated, “I will be meeting the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme Trustees shortly to discuss the best way to deliver our commitments.”

Following this response, Grahame Morris MP said: “For the first time in many years, we have hope for real change in the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.

“Successive governments have taken billions out of the scheme through the unfair surplus sharing arrangements.

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“We now have hope that, rather than taking money out of the scheme, a Labour Government will transfer the £1.2 billion investment fund, putting money back into the pockets of retired miners.

“This injustice will only end when the surplus sharing arrangements are reformed, and the government stops taking money out of the pension fund.

“These are still early days for the Labour Government, but I am pleased that fulfilling our manifesto promises to our coalfield communities has been made a priority.”