Coal Industry (Hansard, 13 April 1994)

§ 21. Mr. Hanson
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Coal to discuss the future of the coal industry.

§ Mr. Eggar
Both my right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman regularly to discuss a range of coal industry matters.

§ Mr. Hanson
On the day of the publication of the coal prospectus, would not it be appropriate for the Minister to arrange an urgent meeting with the chairman of British Coal to ensure that the scheme of enhanced redundancy payments for miners will continue after 30 April so that workers in the Tower colliery and in many other pits throughout the country do not have to face an agonising choice between losing redundancy payments and fighting for their jobs?

§ Mr. Eggar
This is a matter for British Coal, which, I understand, has announced that terms will not be available beyond 30 April.

§ Mr. Robin Cook
Will the Minister confirm that the prospectus for the sale of British Coal, which has been published today, establishes that the Tower colliery will be placed on a care and maintenance basis despite the weekend vote of the work force that it be kept open? Why is the hon. Gentleman determined to close a pit that is in profit? How can he defend a market that closes pits that produce cheap coal, making possible the production of electricity that is cheaper than gas, nuclear energy or French imports? Why are men who have doubled their productivity being rewarded by being made redundant? Will the hon. Gentleman, during the last few months of public ownership of the mines, halt the redundancy among the miners?

§ Mr. Eggar
Even by his own standards, the hon. Gentleman is being highly irresponsible. Clearly he has not read the document that has been published. It says quite clearly that the Tower colliery is currently operating, but that British Coal has proposed its closure. It could not be a clearer or fairer representation of the actual position.