§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is(a) the number of coalminers in Wales who will be made redundant under recent closure plans, (b) the average number of tons per month produced by Welsh collieries and (c) the average comparable number in English collieries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David Hunt(a) Both Taff Merthyr and Betws collieries are due to close at the end of the 90-day statutory consultation period. This will result in the loss of approximately 500 jobs.
(b) Based on the actual saleable outputs for the six months to the end of September 1992, the four Welsh collieries mined in total an average of 156,785 tonnes per month giving an average output per colliery of 39,196 tonnes.
(c) During the same period the 45 English collieries mined in total an average of 4,636,149 tonnes per month giving an average output per colliery of 103,026 tonnes.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the freedom from closure of Tower colliery at Hirwaun, Mid Glamorgan over the next two years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David HuntI have been told by the chairman of British Coal that there are no plans to close this colliery.