This group contains amendments to schedule 18, which makes provision for repealing legislation that is no longer of practical use. Before I outline the amendments, may I say how much I welcome re-encountering the hon. Members for Chesterfield (Toby Perkins) and for Newcastle upon Tyne Central (Chi Onwurah), whose very...

This group contains amendments to schedule 18, which makes provision for repealing legislation that is no longer of practical use. Before I outline the amendments, may I say how much I welcome re-encountering the hon. Members for Chesterfield (Toby Perkins) and for Newcastle upon Tyne Central (Chi Onwurah), whose very...

Clauses 61 to 64 agreed to. Schedule 11 agreed to. Clause 65 agreed to. Schedule 12 agreed to. Clauses 66 and 67 agreed to. Clause 68 under consideration when Committee adjourned till 10 June. Bill, so far as amended, to be reported (carried over as Bill 1 2014-15).

Clauses 61 to 64 agreed to. Schedule 11 agreed to. Clause 65 agreed to. Schedule 12 agreed to. Clauses 66 and 67 agreed to. Clause 68 under consideration when Committee adjourned till 10 June. Bill, so far as amended, to be reported (carried over as Bill 1 2014-15).

My Rt hon Friend the Minister of State for Business and Energy (Michael Fallon) has today made the following statement.

I want to update the House on matters concerning UK Coal Production Ltd.

The Directors of UK Coal Production Ltd (UK Coal) approached the Government at the end of January 2014...

My Rt hon Friend the Minister of State for Business and Energy (Michael Fallon) has today made the following statement.

I want to update the House on matters concerning UK Coal Production Ltd.

The Directors of UK Coal Production Ltd (UK Coal) approached the Government at the end of January 2014...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much he estimates will have to be spent protecting the High Speed 2 track on phase 1 and phase 2 against the effects of mining subsidence; and whether that sum is included in the overall projected cost.

[R]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much he estimates will have to be spent protecting the High Speed 2 track on phase 1 and phase 2 against the effects of mining subsidence; and whether that sum is included in the overall projected cost.

[R]

The hon. Gentleman will have heard, as I have, the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon) respond precisely to some of the questions that he has just put. I completely understand that he and other Members may...

The hon. Gentleman will have heard, as I have, the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon) respond precisely to some of the questions that he has just put. I completely understand that he and other Members may...

It is about state aid.

It is about state aid.

The hon. Gentleman says that it is about state aid, but my right hon. Friend has made it clear that there is no mechanism by which the EU can provide

state aid; that is not how it works. It is about whether this country is in a position to provide...

The hon. Gentleman says that it is about state aid, but my right hon. Friend has made it clear that there is no mechanism by which the EU can provide

state aid; that is not how it works. It is about whether this country is in a position to provide...

Is the Leader of the House aware that there cannot be a more deserved debate than one about the demise of the two deep coal mines in Thoresby and Kellingley, and that it should be held as soon as possible? There are three pits left in Britain, two of which...

Is the Leader of the House aware that there cannot be a more deserved debate than one about the demise of the two deep coal mines in Thoresby and Kellingley, and that it should be held as soon as possible? There are three pits left in Britain, two of which...

I want to update the House on matters concerning UK Coal Production Ltd.

The directors of UK Coal Production Ltd (UK Coal) approached the Government at the end of January 2014 to report that they were concerned that, due to a combination of an unfavourable coal price, exchange rates and other...

I want to update the House on matters concerning UK Coal Production Ltd.

The directors of UK Coal Production Ltd (UK Coal) approached the Government at the end of January 2014 to report that they were concerned that, due to a combination of an unfavourable coal price, exchange rates and other...

In my ministerial statement, copies of which are available in the Vote Office and the Library, I confirmed that we were prepared in principle to contribute a £10 million loan—alongside contributions from other private sector investors—to support a managed closure of the two collieries, which would avoid the significant losses and liabilities that would have materialised in the event of the immediate and uncontrolled insolvency of UK Coal. That does not exclude any further private sector interest, and I have been meeting others who have expressed an interest, as has UK Coal.

In my ministerial statement, copies of which are available in the Vote Office and the Library, I confirmed that we were prepared in principle to contribute a £10 million loan—alongside contributions from other private sector investors—to support a managed closure of the two collieries, which would avoid the significant losses and liabilities that would have materialised in the event of the immediate and uncontrolled insolvency of UK Coal. That does not exclude any further private sector interest, and I have been meeting others who have expressed an interest, as has UK Coal.

Last week, the Prime Minister said on the BBC that he would do everything he could to keep the pits at Kellingley and Thoresby open. This morning, the Minister of State issued a written statement confirming that the Government were facilitating a “managed closure”. Given that people will begin to lose their jobs on 23 May, there is now a very short period in which it is realistically possible to secure alternative investment to keep the pits open. Towards the end of last week, a private operator suggested that it might be interested. Has the Minister of State, or his officials, had any discussions with it about whether it is possible to find a way of securing a commercial future for those pits and those communities?

Last week, the Prime Minister said on the BBC that he would do everything he could to keep the pits at Kellingley and Thoresby open. This morning, the Minister of State issued a written statement confirming that the Government were facilitating a “managed closure”. Given that people will begin to lose their jobs on 23 May, there is now a very short period in which it is realistically possible to secure alternative investment to keep the pits open. Towards the end of last week, a private operator suggested that it might be interested. Has the Minister of State, or his officials, had any discussions with it about whether it is possible to find a way of securing a commercial future for those pits and those communities?

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Cleethorpes (Martin Vickers), who like you, Madam Deputy Speaker, me and every other Member is on a permanent quest for knowledge and self-improvement. I thought I would help that along by saying a few words about the extractive industries transparency...

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Cleethorpes (Martin Vickers), who like you, Madam Deputy Speaker, me and every other Member is on a permanent quest for knowledge and self-improvement. I thought I would help that along by saying a few words about the extractive industries transparency...

I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. It is important, despite the difficulties UK Coal faces, that the Government do everything they can, within the rules that are laid down, to look at whether there is help and assistance that we can give. That is exactly what is happening. I am being kept up to date with this, on sometimes a daily basis. I can assure him that it is getting the Government’s attention.

I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. It is important, despite the difficulties UK Coal faces, that the Government do everything they can, within the rules that are laid down, to look at whether there is help and assistance that we can give. That is exactly what is happening. I am being kept up to date with this, on sometimes a daily basis. I can assure him that it is getting the Government’s attention.

A cloud hangs over the job prospects of 700 mineworkers in my constituency at Kellingley colliery. Will the Prime Minister assure the House that the Government are doing everything they can to ensure the future of the pit and the livelihoods of those men and women?

A cloud hangs over the job prospects of 700 mineworkers in my constituency at Kellingley colliery. Will the Prime Minister assure the House that the Government are doing everything they can to ensure the future of the pit and the livelihoods of those men and women?

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Business and Energy (Michael Fallon) has today made the following statement.

UK Coal is seeking investment, from various parties including the Government, to fund a managed run-down of its two remaining operational deep mines.

The future of UK Coal is primarily a...

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Business and Energy (Michael Fallon) has today made the following statement.

UK Coal is seeking investment, from various parties including the Government, to fund a managed run-down of its two remaining operational deep mines.

The future of UK Coal is primarily a...

UK Coal is seeking investment, from various parties including the Government, to fund a managed run-down of its two remaining operational deep mines.

The future of UK Coal is primarily a commercial matter for the company. The Government are considering whether they can contribute to the private sector-led proposals, which aim...

UK Coal is seeking investment, from various parties including the Government, to fund a managed run-down of its two remaining operational deep mines.

The future of UK Coal is primarily a commercial matter for the company. The Government are considering whether they can contribute to the private sector-led proposals, which aim...

Motion under Standing Order No. 24. Speaker declined to put the application to the House.

Motion under Standing Order No. 24. Speaker declined to put the application to the House.

I rise to propose that the House should debate a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely UK Coal’s proposed closure of Kellingley and Thoresby collieries.

The House will be aware that following statements from UK Coal last week and a written statement made earlier today by my...

I rise to propose that the House should debate a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely UK Coal’s proposed closure of Kellingley and Thoresby collieries.

The House will be aware that following statements from UK Coal last week and a written statement made earlier today by my...