§ 8. Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Energy when he next proposes to meet the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss investment in the coal industry.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI meet the chairman of the National Coal Board regularly to discuss many issues, including the very substantial investment the Government are making in the coal industry.
§ Mr. DormandDoes the Secretary of State realise that the Government's disastrous unemployment record has failed to provide alternative employment in mining areas and has led miners and their families stoutly and vigorously to defend their communities? As the Government's policies will not reduce unemployment in the foreseeable future, will the right hon. Gentleman now take steps to redress the balance between the older mining areas and the newer coalfields? In doing so will he recognise that the recent policy statement about NCB enterprise areas is feeble and will not even begin to meet the problems facing the miners?
§ Mr. WalkerI disagree with the hon. Gentleman's last remark. The enterprise company, at its first meeting, will be announcing its board and range of activities. I assure the hon. Gentleman that it will be a lively and active organisation which will do a great deal.
As to jobs and unemployment, it is a tragedy that, when the Government are prepared to invest £700 million a year, many of those who would have been employed in providing that investment have been made unemployed this year. It is also a great tragedy that markets for the coal industry, which would have provided jobs for miners in the future, have been lost as a result of this industrial dispute.