§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many jobs have been lost because of coal mine closures in the south Leeds area since 1 January 1984; if the RECHAR grants scheme can be applied to this area; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will consider in any further discussions with the European Commission on RECHAR allocations that area of the Normanton constituency which is the former coal mining area of south-east Leeds, for allocation of grant; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will list the areas which have been allocated grants through the RECHAR system.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe south-east Leeds area lost approximately 3,000 coal mining jobs since 1 January 1984. The Government have therefore already proposed to the European Commission that it should be among the areas to benefit from the RECHAR initiative for European structural fund grants to coal-mining areas. The Commission's decision is due by 27 April.