§ Mr. Bowen WellsAsked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what information he has received from the National Coal Board about the reasons for the planned closure of coal mines; and if he will place such information in the Library;
(2) if he will ask the National Coal Board to provide him with detailed information as to its reasons for proposing a programme of pit closures and reduction in production; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI meet regularly with the chairman of the National Coal Board, who keeps me informed on the board's progress towards achieving the objectives set for it by the Government, as announced in the debates on the Coal Industry Bill 1983 on 22 November, at column 38. The board announced at a meeting of the Coal Industry National Consultative Council on 6 March 1984 that planned production in 1984–85 will be reduced to 97.4 million tonnes. A copy of the NCB press statement issued following that meeting and a subsequent account of the board's proposals published in a special edition ofCoal News have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.