HC Deb 22 January 1992 vol 202 c315 3.31 pm
Mr. Geoffrey Lofthouse (Pontefract and Castleford)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 20 for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the announcement by British Coal of the loss of 13,000 jobs at the Prince of Wales, Sharlston, Kellingley and Whitemoor collieries and the closure of the topping cycle plant at Grimethorpe. This matter is specific, because it follows the loss of 20,000 mining and support jobs in west Yorkshire since 1985 without any attempt by the Government to provide replacement industry and it includes the lack of RECHAR. It is important and urgent because the work force, with an average age of between 32 and 33, are being blackmailed by British Coal. If they do not accept voluntary redundancy by the end of March, they will lose £10,000.

Some of those men have been transferred from other collieries and promised long-term employment. They have been encouraged to purchase houses with high mortgages, and they are now desperate and worried. They have been portrayed as Europe and world beaters in coal production in recent months.

The Grimethorpe plant has played a leading part, with a lack of finances, for many years in producing clean coal technology. The closure of the plant is a retrograde step, as that technology is very much needed.

I ask you, Mr. Speaker, to grant my request to allow the House to consider this serious matter.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Mr. Lofthouse) asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 20 for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely, the effect on unemployment of the announcement by British Coal to further run down the coal industry in his own and in neighbouring constituencies. I have listened with care to what the hon. Gentleman has said about the matter. As he knows, I have to decide whether his application comes within the Standing Order and, if so, whether a debate should be granted which would take precedence over the business set down for today or tomorrow.

In this case, I regret that the matter that he has raised does not meet the requirement of the Standing Order. I therefore cannot submit his application to the House today.