HC Deb 17 June 1969 vol 785 cc245-6
15. Mr. Ashton

asked the Minister of Power in view of the Hunt Committee Report, if he will define the precise area of the Yorkshire Coalfield and to what extent it will be treated as continuing into Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire when the areas to receive new assistance are determined.

Mr. Mason

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the statement on intermediate area boundaries that will shortly be made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs.

Mr. Ashton

Do not the traditional boundaries as observed by the National Coal Board extend into Worksop where there are three collieries, part of the Yorkshire Coalfield, and did not this situation exist long before nationalisation?

Mr. Mason

That may well be so, but the Hunt Committee was referring to the planning sub-region of the Yorkshire Coalfield and not necessarily to the geological coalfield.