HC Deb 23 April 1964 vol 693 c1481
9. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the number of pits closed in the County of Durham since January, 1960, and the number of coalminers those closures caused to be unemployed.

The Minister of Power (Mr. F. J. Erroll)

I am asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the right hon. Member about this.

Mr. Shinwell

Pending this information, which no doubt will indicate a rather grave state of affairs, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman as a former President of the Board of Trade and with expert knowledge of what the North-East requires, to try to bring before the Coal Board and his colleagues in the Government the need to step up assistance to the industry?

Mr. Erroll

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his constructive supplementary question. There is very close liaison between the National Coal Board and my former Department regarding pit closures and the need to bring in industries to take the place of pits which have been closed.

Mr. Shinwell

If Lord Robens writes to me as the right hon. Gentleman indicated, what am I expected to do?

Mr. Erroll

That is very straightforward. The right hon. Gentleman should read the letter.