§ 9. Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a further statement about his proposals following his visits to the old coalfield areas. [9356]
§ Mr. PrescottThe nation owes a debt to the coalfield areas. We are looking urgently at what is being done in these areas and what more we can do. As a start, I intend to look at the problems and opportunities in and around my hon. Friend's constituency—to see which measures work and which are less successful. I want then to broaden the discussion to bring in other coalfield communities, with a view to a national conference next spring.