Talks aimed at addressing a pensions injustice depriving thousands of North-East miners of millions of pounds face being delayed for at least several months, it has emerged.

The Northern Echo reported last month how the Government was facing fresh calls to rip up an agreement entitling it to half the surpluses of two industry pension schemes.

Representatives from the Coalfield Communities Campaign (CCC) had arranged to meet Chancellor Gordon Brown's deputy Paul Boateng MP, the chief secretary to the Treasury, later this month to press the case for immediate action.

But the meeting has now been postponed following an application by the South Wales branch of NACODS, the pit deputies' union, for a judicial review of the Government's handling of one of the schemes.

Talks between the pension trustees and the Government to formulate changes to the agreement are also understood to have been delayed for fear of prejudicing the outcome of the review.

A judge has agreed there is a case to answer, but a hearing may not be heard for at least several months with the final outcome sometime after that.

David Parry, research officer with the CCC, said: "The Government is refusing to discuss the issue because it would be subjudice.

"They have managed to avoid a meeting for some considerable time about the on-going position with the surpluses and the price that both pension schemes have paid for a low-risk guarantee."

Pensions critic David Murray, a retired miner from Coxhoe, County Durham, said: "They are dragging their feet again. There is nothing stopping them getting round the table and getting on with it."

The Government agreed in 1994 to underwrite the Mineworkers Pension Scheme (MPS), which covers the majority of former miners, and the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) paid into largely by management and clerical staff.

The aim was to safeguard the funds against any shortfall, but their performance has outstripped expectations and during the 1990s large reserves built up to which the treasury is entitled to a 50/50 split.

The market value of the pension fund has since fallen, but attention has turned to the surpluses that have already accumulated.

The CCC estimates that as from April next year about £3.5bn is awaiting payment into Treasury coffers.

The Government agreed more than a year ago to give £90m to 66,000 long-service miners on low pensions, many in the North-East's former coalfields.

But up until last month only £57m had been paid and many elderly pitmen continue to struggle on low incomes.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Trade and Industry said: "At the moment everything is on hold.

"An unfortunate consequence of the judicial review is that until it is concluded the Government does not feel it would be right to continue with discussions with the trustees of the pension schemes."

Read more about the Justice for the Miners campaign here.