HC Deb 15 October 1968 vol 770 cc194-6
45. Mr. Eadie

asked the Minister of Power what further consideration has been given to the pit closure programme.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power (Mr. Reginald Freeson)

The National Coal Board continues to keep my right hon. Friend informed of the collieries it intends to close, and he keeps the general lines of the Board's programme under constant review.

Mr. Eadie

Is my hon. Friend aware that within the mining communities there is great hostility to the future pit closure programme? Is he aware that there is even hostility between his Department and the miners' trade unions? Does he propose to examine or re-examine this policy, because if the programme is continued as suggested at the present time it can mean disaster for the economy of the country?

Mr. Freeson

All I can say is that the Government are examining the possibility of deferring some closures on a selective basis, as has been done in the past, in areas where there is very high unemployment. Indeed, two closures have already been deferred this month pending consideration of their implications.

Dame Irene Ward

Having regard to that reply by the Minister, when the Government have seen the list of possible closures, do they then decide what they will do to help to a proper and considerable extent the men who are displaced owing to the closures? That is really one of the failures of this Government.

Mr. Freeson

I am afraid that the hon. Lady is a little out of touch with what has been going on in this respect. A great deal has been done, and earlier this year a special scheme of retirement pay or redundancy pay for men in this industry over 55 years of age having to leave their employment owing to closures was introduced, something the previous Government never did.

Mr. James Griffiths

Is my hon. Friend aware that the rundown in the mining industry now is reaching nearly double the rate envisaged in the White Paper and that as a result, redundancy in the coal mining industry is now in danger of far outstripping the provisions of alternative employment? In view of that fact, will he take steps to defer closures?

Mr. Freeson

As I have indicated, there is a procedure for considering selective deferment. On the general point, the Government are very concerned, and my Department is very concerned, about the rate of rundown this year, although we have no reason to believe on the evidence so far available that the extremely high level of rundown this year will be repeated in the succeeding two or three years.

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