Oral Answers to Questions — Energy – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 February 1992.
Mr Frank Haynes
, Ashfield
12:00,
24 February 1992
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of British Coal to discuss redundancy payments for mineworkers.
David Heathcoat-Amory
, Wells
We meet the chairman of British Coal on a regular basis to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.
Mr Frank Haynes
, Ashfield
I am not surprised that the Minister has not mentioned redundancy payments for miners when they are closing pits willy-nilly. You know, Mr. Speaker, they would complain like billy-o on the Treasury Bench if we docked their redundancy payments. Yet they are using blackmail on miners to vote to close pits earlier than they year that had been decided on so that they can close the pit down and they have cut the redundancy payments for miners. They should be ashamed of themselves. What are they going to do about it?
David Heathcoat-Amory
, Wells
If I heard the hon. Gentleman correctly, he suggested that redundancy pay for displaced miners was excessively generous. That is a curious message from the Labour party, although it is true that Opposition this year voted against the Coal Industry Bill, which provides for the continuation of those generous payments to redundant miners. Miners all over the country will know that the Labour party voted against those terms.
Mr Frank Haynes
, Ashfield
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Due to the unsatisfactory reply from the Minister, I shall apply for an Adjournment Debate.
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