HC Deb 09 December 1985 vol 88 cc606-7
2. Mr. Ray Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, when he next meets the chairman of the National Coal Board, he will raise with him the question of the implications of the importation of United States coking coal for the future of coking coal collieries; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Nicholas Edwards)

The chairman of the National Coal Board is well aware of the damage caused by the miners' strike and of the even greater need now to make the industry cost competitive. In 1984, 2.9 million tonnes of American coking coal were imported. In 1983, before the strike, the figure was 0.8 million tonnes.

Mr. Powell

Is the Secretary of State aware that in Wales he is considered as a waster because he has wasted Welsh national assets and those of the Welsh coalfield? Is he further aware that since I asked a question about coking coal imports three weeks ago the St. John's and Garw collieries in my constituency have closed, making 1,400 miners redundant? How can he equate that with the policies that the Government are pursuing? Is he engaged in a political vendetta against the miners and others in my constituency who supported the miners' strike to the hilt?

Mr. Edwards

The hon. Gentleman knows that the south Wales coalfield has been losing massive sums of money, and now the management of the coalfield has begun to reduce those losses. As a result of the strike that the hon. Gentleman supported, imports were substantially increased, as I pointed out, and the orders then placed will affect the mining industry in south Wales for some time to come.

Mr. Terlezki

Are there any signs of resuming the export of coal from south Wales to France to the tune of 600,000 tonnes per annum—an order that was lost because of Scargill's political, unwarranted strike?

Mr. Edwards

Obviously, as the cost competitiveness of Welsh coal improves—it is improving rapidly—so will the chance both to expand exports and reduce imports, although there will always be a requirement for the import of some coking coal to get the required mix. I hope that with improved competitiveness that will be possible.