§ Mr. Urwinasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the extent of capital made available from the European Coal and Steel Community by grants and loans to the British coal industry; if he will detail individual projects assisted; and if he will endeavour to secure such financial assistance towards further exploration and extraction of undersea coal reserves in the Northern coalfield.
§ Mr. EadieThe National Coal Board has to date received some £128 million in loans and grants from the European Coal and Steel Community and European Investment Bank. The details are listed below. It is the Board's responsibility to secure such loans for mining projects. I understand it is the Board's policy to seek the maximum possible assistance for all eligible projects. The figures demonstrate the success of this policy, which has my full support.
LOANS AND GRANTS RECEIVED BY THE NCB FROM THE ECSC
808W§ 1. Loans totalling £63.4 million for modernisation projects at the following collieries:
- Horden/Blackhall
- Littleton
- Trentham
- Royston
- Betws
- Easington
- Thoresby
- Haig
- Coalfield Farm
- Ollerton
- Taff Merthyr/Merthyr Vale
- Thurcroft
- Dinnington
- Blaenant
- Betteshanger
- Lynemouth/Ellington
- Markham
- Bentinck
- Hucknall
- Maltby.
- Silverwood
- Frickley/South Elmsall
- Longannet (Bogside)
- Golborne.
§ 2. Loans for powered roof supports and other underground plant and machinery £58.2 million.
§ 3. Loans for improvements to miners' houses £1.6 million.
§ 4. Grants for Research and Development on mining technology and coal utilisation £2.3 million.
§ 5. Grants to assist redundant mineworkers £2 million.