§ 17. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Minister of Power if he will make a further statement on the implementation of his proposals to relieve social and economic hardship consequent on the acceleration of the closure of uneconomic coal mines.
§ 20. Mr. McNair-Wilsonasked the Minister of Power when he will publish a White Paper on the coal industry.
Mr. LeeI have been having discussions with the industry and I expect to make a further statement in the White Paper on the Finances of the Coal Industry. I hope that this will be available on Thursday, 4th November.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs my right hon. Friend aware that an undue proportion of these uneconomic pits are in Scotland, and, therefore, would he give an assurance that the phasing of the closures will be such as to reduce to the minimum, if not eliminate, the social and economic hardships which will inevitably result?
Mr. LeeYes, Sir. I think that my hon. Friend will see that there is quite a combined operation on this matter between myself and a number of my right hon. Friends to make sure that as these pits are phased out we get new building development, new housing where there is a need by a receiving area to have men, and that in every way we ensure that there will be the very minimum of hardship to everybody.
§ Mr. McNair-WilsonDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that we on this side look forward with interest to the publication of this White Paper, because it will serve to enlighten us on the fuel 856 policy White Paper already published? Can he perhaps also let us know whether it will do something to blow away the cobwebs surrounding the reorganisation of the National Coal Board?
Mr. LeeI am always pleased to enlighten the hon. Member. Perhaps we had better wait until Thursday. We go into considerable detail about the future of the coalfields.