§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that the Welsh mining industry is provided with financial assistance on a basis similar to the English Partnerships National Coalfield Programme; and if he will make a statement. [84189]
§ Mr. TouhigI understand that there are no plans to establish a Welsh equivalent to the English Partnerships National Coalfield Programme in Wales.
However, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in Wales was allocated £3.462 million over three years by the UK Government since its launch in late 1999.
432WThe next tranche of funding for the Coalfield Regeneration Trust in Wales, which will be funded by the National Assembly for Wales, has been agreed and will be spread over 2002 to 2005 as follows:
£million 2002–03 1.157 2003–04 1.420 2004–05 1.420 The funding for 2003–05 is conditional on the Coalfields Regeneration Trust reaching agreed operational targets.