§ 8. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he intends to make to the tripartite investigation into the special problems facing the coal industry in South Wales.
§ Mr. John MorrisMy aim is to ensure that all proposals which will help to secure a thriving coal industry in South Wales are thoroughly examined.
§ Mr. EvansDoes my right hon. and learned Friend agree that there has been a general welcome for the Government's decision to set up this tripartite committee? As his colleague the Under-Secretary of State will be serving on that committee, will my right hon. and learned Friend ask him to make representations to avoid the closure of the Deep Duffryn colliery in Mountain Ash? At the same time, will my right hon. and learned Friend express disapproval of the activities of the dirty tricks department of Plaid Cymru in releasing a confidential document which was sent by the National Union of Mineworkers to Labour Members in this House, which was obtained by Plaid Cymru by devious means?
§ Mr. MorrisI am glad that my hon. Friend welcomes the tripartite committee, which was announced when he initiated a debate in the House. The membership will be announced today. It will have its first meeting on 14th December, which underlines the urgency of the task of looking at ways by which we can ensure exploration for and exploitation of coal in South Wales, ensure that mining skills are used to the full, that job opportunities are maintained, that coalfields are put on a viable financial footing and that the effects of closures and the social consequences thereof are considered.
As regards Deep Duffryn, I am aware of my hon. Friend's concern. The matter is now subject to appeal.
As regards what my hon. Friend terms a dirty tricks department, or whatever, it is not for me to answer for Plaid Cymru. All I say is that Mr. Philip Weekes has come out loud and clear about the substantial and significant inaccuracies in this document, in that one pit had already been closed, two had recently had major financial investment, and the call for Government action was made one week after the tripartite group had been set up.
§ Mr. Gwynfor EvansIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman in a position to make a categorical denial that there is any truth in the report which seems to have emanated from the NUM that 10 or 11 pits are to close? If pits in Wales were to close on that scale, we should return to the situation of 1964 to 1970, when one pit was closed, on average, every seven weeks.
§ Mr. MorrisIf the hon. Gentleman is genuinely concerned with the future of the coal industry, I should have thought that he would have welcomed the setting up of this tripartite committee. It consists of distinguished members of the NUM, the National Coal Board and two or three Ministers, including my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, and they are deeply and passionately concerned with the future of the coal industry.
What is important is to ensure that one looks at the possibility of new investment in South Wales. As a constituency Member, I am deeply concerned about this. Secondly, in view of geological fac- 8 tors in Wales, which over recent years, regrettably, we have known very well, we must ensure that the social consequences are adequately examined.