§ 1. Mr. Boxasked the Minister of Power whether he will give details of the timing of the proposed closures of pits in Category C; and if he is satisfied that adequate arrangements are being made for the redeployment of the miners involved.
§ The Minister of Power (Mr. Frederick Lee)The timing of the closure of individual pits is a matter for the National Coal Board, which has long-established arrangements for consultation with the unions. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes".
§ Mr. BoxWith regard to those members of the industry who cannot be redeployed within it, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as a result of the recent redefinition of the development areas, mining areas have become comparatively unattractive to new industries? How will the Minister overcome the difficulty of attracting new industries to mining areas in preference to more attractive places within the development areas?
§ Mr. LeeAll the areas substantially affected by closures are in the new development areas announced in the White Paper on Investment Incentives. These investment incentives will help to bring industry into these areas. Under the programmes announced since the Government took office 32 advance factories are being built in the mining areas.
§ Mr. SnowIs my right hon. Friend aware of the procedure adopted in Holland, which is faced with a somewhat similar problem of running down old pits, where industry is seen to be available simultaneous with the closing of the pits? Might we not, with advantage, study what is going on there?
§ Mr. LeeI am grateful to my hon. Friend for what he has said, but if we look back over the years and study the performance of the National Coal Board in this respect we find that there have been 200 closures in the past five years and that the record of the Coal Board in looking 857 after redundant men is highly creditable. We hope to do no worse in the next five years than we have done in the last five.