§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Power (1) if he will list the collieries in the present general plan of closures which are destined to close in the next five years, and the reasons why
(2) why he has approved a general plan of increased closure of collieries at a time of increased demand of all forms of fuel in this country and Europe; and whether he will halt all such closures for the time being.
§ Mr. GeorgeDecisions about the closure of collieries are the responsibility of the National Coal Board by whom they are discussed in detail with the unions concerned in the divisions. Experience has shown that it is not possible to make accurate long-range forecasts about the future of individual collieries. The Board's plans provide for the replacement of worked-out and uneconomic capacity by new and more efficient collieries. The continuation of this process is essential to the industry's prosperity.