§ 13. Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has received about employment prospects in the light of future pit closures in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThe last colliery closure in Scotland was in October 1972. No further closures in Scotland have been announced by the National Coal Board, so that questions of alternative employment have not since arisen. I shall continue to keep closely in touch with the situation in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
§ Mr. EadieIs the Secretary of State aware that such a statement from him —that no pit closures are contemplated —shows that he is completely out of touch with what is happening in Scotland? Does not he agree that it is time there was a statement on how the new Coal Industry Act, and the money earmarked in it, will prevent pit closures?
Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Scotland there is growing suspicion that the Act and the money therein mentioned are becoming merely symbols and will not be activated by the Government? Will the right hon. Gentleman do something about this?
§ Mr. CampbellWill the hon. Gentleman not misrepresent what I have just said? I shall repeat it for him. I said that no further closures in Scotland have been announced by the National Coal Board but that I was keeping closely in touch with the situation because I recognise that closures could be announced in the future. My hon. Friend the Minister for Industry made a statement about this in the debate on 21st December. If the hon. Gentleman did not hear it he can look it up.
§ Mr. Alexander WilsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is too late to do anything about a particular area when the announcement of a pit closure has been made? We are asking that Section 9 of the Act be applied to see whether 433 some of the collieries which we hear—only hear—axe contemplated for closure need not be closed if there were an application of the money which the Government keep for this purpose.
§ Mr. CampbellIt has been made clear that the future depends upon the industry's success in selling its product and on changes in productivity. The coal industry as a whole and miners recognise this and have been making special efforts. I must point out also that the National Coal Board has a good record of giving adequate notice before closures. But in the closure of October 1972 I am glad to say that of the 448 men employed, 310 were transferred to other collieries and of the other 138 who were made redundant a very large number were over 60 or in their late 50s.