HC Deb 26 April 1993 vol 223 cc300-1W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total projected cost of the package of aid which is to be made available to the coal communities affected by his pit closure programme.

Mr. Eggar

As indicated in "Prospects for Coal", £200 million of additional measures has been available to English areas affected by major job losses in mining. There is a separate package of £43 million available to corresponding areas in Wales.

Mr. Clapham

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will guarantee that coal miners working at a mine scheduled for closure, mothballing or development under the Government's review who elect to put the colliery into the modified review procedure do not suffer any financial loss over the period whilst awaiting the decision of the review.

Mr. Eggar

Decisions on the future of individual collieries, including consultation arrangements, and the remuneration and redundancy terms for its work force, are a matter for British Coal.