§ Mr. TippingTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what financial assistance has been made available through training and enterprise councils to help collieries which have been closed since the publication of "Prospects for Coal" to reopen under private ownership.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Department has made available £75 million to training and enterprise councils and the Employment Service to implement business plans to help communities affected by pit closures.
Plans include provision for job search activities and training and business start-up programmes.
301W
§ Mr. TippingTo ask the Secretary of Slate for Employment what amount of finance has been made available for each closed colliery through training and enterprise councils to aid regeneration and redeployment activities.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe amount of finance being made available through training and enterprise councils to the areas affected by each colliery closure is given in the table:
£ million Collieries Business Plan Value Trentham 3.695 Cot grave 1.300 Silverhill—joint plan 6.810 Bevercotes—joint plan Clipstone—joint plan Bolsover—joint plan Shirebrook—joint plan 3.449 Markham 3.458 Sharlston 1.836 Markham Main—joint plan 8.015 Houghton Main—joint plan Grimethorpe—joint plan Rossington—joint plan Kellingley 1.058 Maltby 3.251 Parkside 1.740 Vane Tempest—joint plan 5.584 Easington—joint plan Westoe 1.902 Calverton 1.686 Daw Mill1 Silverdale1 Littleton1 Rufford1 Frickley1 Bentley1 Hatfield/Thorne1 Wearmouth1 1These pits have either only recently closed or reached two thirds redundancy, and contract negotiations with the relevant TECs are continuing. The total combined budget is £16.023 million, subject to final contract agreement. £5 million has been made available to the Employment Service for assessment, guidance and job search activities. £2.6 million allocated to Wales.