HC Deb 24 June 1985 vol 81 cc627-9
12. Mr. Spencer

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, when he next meets the chairman of the National Coal Board, he will discuss the future development of the coal industry in Leicestershire.

Mr. David Hunt

I am aware of the National Coal Board's plans for the development of the coal industry in Leicestershire and expect to discuss them with the chairman of the board from time to time as they develop.

Mr. Spencer

Does my hon. Friend agree that the development of the industry in Leicestershire is an admirable model for other parts of the country, with its high investment, high wages and high productivity? Does he agree also that the coal industry as a whole would do better to concentrate on a rosy future rather than on looking over its shoulder at the outworn ideas and outworn pits of the past?

Mr. Hunt

My hon. Friend put the agument well. There is an exciting future for the industry in the area, with the movement towards low-cost, high productivity pits. I understand from the National Coal Board that work on the sinking of the shaft at Asfrodby will begin next month. Productivity at such pits is expected to reach five times the national average. That is good news for everyone connected with this great industry.

Mr. Janner

Is the Minister aware that high productivity and excellence in the coal mining industry in Leicestershire has not prevented what will be the devastation of that industry by the closing of a considerable number of pits and by saving only a few jobs as a result of opening the mine at Asfordby? Will the Minister promise that the remaining pits in the Vale of Belvoir will soon be open so that the production to which he refers can save the industry, not only in Leicestershire, but in the midlands, where it is so badly needed?

Mr. Hunt

The hon. and learned Gentleman has his facts wrong. The numbers employed in the coal industry in that area will increase by the end of the century. I wish that the hon. and learned Gentleman would spend his time paying tribute to the miners in the south midlands area, who worked throughout the strike and showed their good sense and support for an industry that will produce competitively priced coal.

13. Mr. Woodall

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, when he next meets the chairman of the National Coal Board, he will discuss industrial relations in the coal industry.

Mr. Peter Walker

My regular discussions with the chairman cover all major aspects of the coal industry.

Mr. Woodall

Is the Secretary of State aware that industrial relations in the mining industry are at zero level? Are they not worse than they have ever been since the pits were nationalised in 1947, and almost as bad as they were under private enterprise? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware of the position at South Elmsall Frickley colliery where workmen and retired workmen have held fishing rights on two ponds for more than 60 years? The ponds were acquired by the NCB in 1974 to provide water for washing and fire fighting. Does he realise that the NCB has told the miners that they can no longer fish those two ponds? That has caused a great deal of upset in the village.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Acton Hall colliery in Featherstone—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I hope that this is related to industrial relations.

Mr. Woodall

It certainly is, Mr. Speaker.

Is the Secretary of State aware that Acton Hall colliery is the first to have its closure announced since the strike, that all men over 50 have been made redundant, that men under 50 have been asked to volunteer for redundancy and that 112 have volunteered with 17 being made redundant? The others will be transferred—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman must not make a speech.

Mr. Walker

I recognise the hon. Gentleman's considerable anxiety about the problems in his constituency. Obviously, I do not know about the fishing rights and therefore cannot comment on that. As the figures I have given show, over much of the country production is increasing and acceptance of change is taking place in a good way. I hope that everybody will encourage that. There is no doubt that if we continue with the sort of approach that stops development, investment and sensible production of coal, the industry will have a bad future rather than a good one. There is a duty on the leadership of the NUM to pay far more attention to encouraging productivity rather than encouraging dissatisfaction.