Tuesday February 17th 2026
Colin Beattie MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh
Colin Beattie MSP, Midlothian North & Musselburgh, writes his monthly column for Midlothian View
For decades, our mining communities powered Scotland and the UK, often at a great personal cost. Yet many of them were let down by the UK Government when it came to pension fairness.
For years, both Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme (MPS) members and those in the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) were treated unfairly by the UK Government, leaving generations of mining pensioners without the justice they deserved. While MPS members eventually secured longoverdue reimbursement after decades of pressure, BCSSS pensioners were forced to battle even harder simply to seek similar recognition. Although recent progress has been made, the struggle for true fairness for BCSSS members is far from over, and their campaign continues.
In 2024 the MPS received a £1.5 billion transfer after decades of campaigning whilst the BCSSS held a reserve of £2.3 billion that the UK Government only recently announced will be distributed to its members.
This news is welcomed, however, the fight from BCSSS trustees is not over. They are now entering discussions with the UK Government to agree a way forward with surplus sharing arrangements. It is essential that fairness is central to these discussions.
As the MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh and as someone deeply connected to our mining heritage through my involvement with the National Mining Museum, I have always stood firm with miners and their families. This fight is about justice, dignity, and ensuring that those who gave so much are not forgotten
Throughout the BCSSS Trustees campaign for fairness I have been proud to stand by them and press the UK Government into action.
I have written to the UK Government to request several of Trustees asks are respected. With 2,400 BCSSS sadly passing away each year, it is essential that progress is made quickly.
I’d like to thank the BCSSS Trustees for their hard work and commitment in fighting for fairness for their members.
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