Future Of Easington And Vane Tempest Collieries

EDM number 1187 in 1992-93, proposed by John Cummings on 19/01/1993.

That this House commends Easington District Council for its report, The Case for Easington and Vane Tempest Collieries, believing that the collected submissions from mining, environmental and economics experts make for a compelling case for the retention of the two East Durham pits; further notes the report's findings, in particular that new and possibly lucrative markets may exist domestically and in Scandinavia for North East coal; that substantial reserves exist at both collieries; that likely cost reductions at Easington and Vane Tempest would enable the collieries to challenge coal imports; that any cessation of water pumping from the Durham coalfield would result in severe pollution of the River Wear and pose a major threat to drinking water supplies for the City of Sunderland; further notes that both mines have historically been good performers and have consistently made yearly profits; and commends the report to the President of the Board of Trade, the DTI Coal Review Group and Boyds Mining Engineers.

This motion has been signed by a total of 66 MPs.