HC Deb 15 November 1966 vol 736 c217
17. Mr. Woof

asked the Minister of Power how many miners in the past five years, during the reorganisation of the mining industry, have been moved to receiving mining areas to meet the needs of modern redeployment in economic pits.

Mr. Marsh

Since 1962 about 10,000 men have moved under Board's schemes into receiving mining areas.

Mr. Woof

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it has not been an easy task to surmount the social upheavals in such a massive manpower movement, and would not he agree that such human redeployment for the betterment of the economy is worthy of the widespread publicity which has been vouchsafed and given by other branches of British industry which have recently been highlighted.

Mr. Marsh

I would certainly agree with that. I do not think that there is any other industry which, faced with such enormous social problems, has acted with less upheaval and less dislocation than has happened in the coal industry in this very difficult period.