§ Mr. FisherTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received on the financial viability of Trentham colliery and the other nine pits marked for closure.
§ Mr. EggarI have received a number of representations of that kind. Such representations are, however, best made to British Coal since it is currently engaged in the statutory consultation process relating to the 10 pits.
§ 27. Mr. HansonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the considerations which led to the Point of Ayr colliery being added to the original closure list of 31 pits at a late stage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarMy right hon. Friend and I accepted British Coal's advice that, in order to meet its estimate of its potential market economically, it needed to reduce its present levels of production urgently and substantially. We also accepted British Coal's advice as to the particular pits that should be closed.
§ 29. Mr. WinnickTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the latest position over pit closures.
§ Mr. EggarSubject to the outcome of the statutory consultation process, British Coal is proceeding with the closure of the 10 pits which it told my right hon. Friend are currently loss making and have no prospect of viability in the foreseeable future.
The other 21 pits originally proposed for closure by British Coal remain the subject of a moratorium until early in the New Year, during which time we shall be carrying out a full and wide-ranging review of its prospects.