§ 3. Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many people are currently eligible for British Coal's redundant mineworkers payments scheme.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy (Mr. Michael Spicer)By 15 January 7,350 men had accepted redundancy under British Coal's industrial redundancy scheme. There have been no compulsory redundancies.
§ Mr. DaviesIs the Minister aware that despite the general welcome to extend RMPS to the Tredomen engineering works in my constituency, there is considerable anger at the decision announced a fortnight ago to close the works? Is the Minister further aware that considerable sacrifices were made by the employees at those works over very many years, including the acceptance of voluntary redundancies? In the light of the present closure, will he reconsider his decision not to extend retrospective payments under the RMPS to those former employees?
§ Mr. SpicerThere will be no change of policy on that matter. The work force at Tredomen has accepted that redundancy closure proposition.
Mr. Andy StewartIn view of what my hon. Friend has said, would he like to bring a little joy into Arthur Scargill's life, since his disastrous election at the weekend, and let the country know that he would still be eligible for the mineworkers redundancy scheme?
§ Mr. SpicerMr. Scargill was elected on the basis of 35 per cent. of the mining work force. If Mr. Scargill pursues his confrontation policies, far from saving jobs, which he professes is his wish, he will threaten jobs.
§ Mr. SkinnerIs the Minister aware that the figures announced yesterday for the election of the president of the National Union of Mineworkers, referred to by the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Stewart), showed a handsome majority of which any political leader in Britain would be proud? It is time that we stopped this Orwellian fantasy that, because Arthur Scargill has been elected on a reduced majority, just as the Prime Minister was in the last election, somehow or other he has to adopt the policies of his defeated opponent. That is nonsense.
§ Mr. SpicerThe hon. Gentleman is right, that Mr. Scargill was re-elected as president of the NUM, although that is only one union representing the miners. I had hoped that the hon. Gentleman would go on to say that if Mr. Scargill's policies are pursued we could end up with more closures in the mining industry, whereas if, for example, the overtime ban were removed, that could lead not only to fewer closures but to the opening up and development of seams and new pits.
§ Mr. SpeakerMay I make a plea for hon. Members to stick to the question. There is a later question about this matter on the Order Paper.