§ 32. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Energy what research is being carried out into the remote control of underground coal mining machinery.
§ Mr. EadieThe National Coal Board regards the automation of the coal winning process as the next major step forward in mining technology, and it forms the principal objective of the current mining R. and D. programme. The Annual Report of the Mining Research and Development Establishment, which is placed in the Library of this House, lists the areas in which attention is being concentrated.