§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Minister of Power what information he has received from the National Coal Board regarding the number of coal mines or pits closed in Scotland and Lanarkshire, respectively, in the last 10 years, and the number of workers involved, and regarding the number which will be closed in the next 10 years and the number of workers who will be affected.
§ Mr. WoodThe Board has closed 97 pits in Scotland—including 29 in Lanarkshire—since 1st January, 1951. These closures affected 18,300 and 4,500 men respectively. Closures in the next2W ten years will depend on the circumstances of individual pits and the demand for coal.