§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he proposes to take to meet the costs of retraining for former coal miners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Department has made available £75 million to training and enterprise councils and the Employment Service to provide additional training and retraining provision for unemployed people in pit closure areas, including former miners.
British Coal Enterprise also has substantial resources to retrain and provide other opportunities to help ex-mineworkers.
The £75 million forms part of the larger £200 million Government package to help the regeneration of pit closure areas.