§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what amount of the £20 billion authorised investment by the Government in the coal industry since 1979 was invested in collieries which have since been closed or which are under threat of closure.
§ Mr. EggarThe figure of £20 billion funding referred to represents deficiency and social grants to British Coal and payments under the redundant mineworkers payments scheme. The Government have authorised British Coal to spend nearly £8 billion on capital investment over the same period.
Investment at individual collieries is normally a matter for British Coal although grant approval is needed where capital expenditure exceeds £50 million on a single project. In the period concerned the only projects which came into this category were Selby—capital expenditure to date is about £1,500 million—and Asfordby—capital expenditure to date is about £250 million.
§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what amount has been invested since 1979 in the collieries at(a) Taf Merthyr, (b) Deep Navigation, (c) Merthyr Vale, (d) Trelewis Drift and (e) Betws.