§ Caroline FlintTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which organisations with a specific remit to support coal mining and former coal mining communities receive Government funding. [39381]
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§ Ms KeebleThe Government funded organisations with specific remits to support coal mining and its former communities are:
- (i) The Coal Authority, whose principal functions are to license coal mining operations and to discharge liabilities stemming from historic mining activity;
- (ii) the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, whose objective is to be a key agency promoting and achieving the social and economic regeneration of the former coalfields.
In addition, English Partnerships are responsible for delivering the ringfenced National Coalfields Programme working with the RDAs. This programme delivers environmental improvements and development infrastructure on the 86 former coalfield sites within the programme's portfolio.
Furthermore, a Coalfields Enterprise Fund is to be launched later this year, providing venture capital to new and expanding small and medium sized business located in the former English coalfields.