Coal Industry Dispute (School Closures)

HC Deb 13 March 1972 vol 833 cc8-9

10. Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many schools in Wales were closed due to a shortage of coal during the recent strike in the mining industry; and how many children were affected by these closures.

Mr. Peter Thomas

The largest number of schools closed at any one time during the strike is estimated to have been 228, affecting about 90,000 children.

Mr. Coleman

Is the Secretary of State aware that in some Welsh secondary schools pupils have been deprived of their education for as much as four weeks during this period? Is not this a further example of the disastrous tenure at No. 10 Downing Street of the present Prime Minister during which time 1½ million people have been deprived of their employment, children have been deprived of their free school milk and, it seems, the British people will be deprived of their sovereignty too?

Mr. Thomas

It is a further example of hardship which is bound to arise when there is a strike of that nature.

Mr. Gower

Is it not a fact that, at any rate in South Wales, many local authorities have attempted to help the coal industry by using coal central heating, and so on, and to that extent they have made schools more susceptible during such a strike?

Mr. Thomas

That is perfectly true. Those authorities which were dependent on coal for heating schools were the most vulnerable during the strike.

Mr. Fred Evans

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman ignore the question by his hon. Friend the Member for Barry (Mr. Gower), which is another disguised attempt on the part of hon. Gentlemen on the Government side to try to inflict their venom and malice on the miners, because they were beaten by them, by inciting organisations to abandon the use of coal? In the interests of the people of Wales and in the interest of preventing a further massive increase in unemployment, will he urge upon his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry that this kind of venom has to stop and that, in any policy for fuel and power, coal must have a major place, as otherwise Wales will suffer bitterly?

Mr. Thomas

I cannot possibly ignore my hon. Friend's question. There was no venom in it. My hon. Friend asked a factual question. It was perfectly true and I agreed with him.