§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration he has given to relative concentration in future developments on heavily mechanised coal extraction, in the event of a reduction in the retirement age for miners.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he made of the output of the following projects: Vale of Belvoir, the Vale of Greet and North Newark-Witham; and what are the estimated development costs of each.
316Wgoods, food, commodities including oil, and other items, respectively, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and if he will give comparable figures for each of the previous five years.
§ Mr. Meacher, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 1st December 1976, Vol. 921, c. 194], gave the following information:
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether it is intended that the East Leicestershire development will proceed before or after that in Belvoir or simultaneously.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the 80 projects covering existing mines for which approvals have been given pursuant to the plan for coal.
§ Mr. EadieI suggest that the hon. Member addresses this Question to the Chairman of the National Coal Board.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the location of the new mines other than Selby, Belvoir, East Leicestershire, Park, Royston and Betws which upon completion is expected to contribute towards the 20 million tons per annum of new capacity.
§ Mr. EadieThe only new mines which will contribute towards the 20 million tons of new capacity envisaged in "Plan for Coal" and which have been approved are Royston, Betws and Selby. It will 317W be for the National Coal Board to propose other projects to make up the rest of the new capacity.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes authorising the development of the Oxfordshire coal reserves bounded by Banbury and Witney (north to south) and Chipping Norton and Blenheim Place (west to east) before 1985.
§ Mr. EadieI and my right hon. Friend are not at the moment aware of any such project. We would need to reach a decision only if the National Coal Board, having received planning permission, submitted its economic and technical appraisal for my right hon. Friend's endorsement.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of inflation has affected the 1974 plan for coal when reassessing the plan at current prices and when the costings for the "Plan for Coal" were actually made.
§ Mr. EadieIn the current round of tripartite talks between the Government, the Board and the mining unions, we are examining the latest estimated cost of "Plan for Coal" and the reasons for increases over the estimates made in 1974. We propose to issue a report in due course.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will compare the 1974 version and the present plan for coal giving a detailed list of additions incorporating specifically the new projects.
§ Mr. EadieThe choice of individual projects within "Plan for Coal" is a matter for the National Coal Board. The Board has not sought my right hon. Friend's endorsement to any new mine project since Selby.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends to publish the follow-on programme for coal intended to cover the period 1985 to 2000.
§ Mr. EadieThe report that we hope to publish following the current coal industry tripartite discussions will indicate possible lines of development of the318W coal industry in the period 1985 to 2000.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many coal mines in the United Kingdom are operating at a loss; how many will become profitable with a cash injection; and how many are nearing exhaustion.
§ Mr. EadieThis Question is a matter for the Chairman of the National Coal Board since it concerns details of the Board's operations.
§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he has taken to assist the Scottish coalfield to maintain electricity markets and sustain 1974 levels of employment.
§ Mr. EadieSince the meeting of a Scottish coal/electricity working group in April there has been considerable progress towards a new coal-burn agreement between the South of Scotland Electricity Board and the National Coal Board. My right hon. Friend and I are mindful of the great importance of such an agreement and we shall continue to do our best to facilitate it.