PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
COALFIELD REGENERATION (21 October 2010)

That this House welcomes the publication of the Review of CoalfieldsRegeneration by the Coalfield Regeneration Review Board; notes the impact on coalfield communities as a result of the decline of the mining industry is that these areas tend to be isolated, with high mortality rates, higher than average deprivation, fewer businesses per head of population than the national average and 25 per cent. fewer jobs per resident than non-coalfield areas; further notes that despite the investment of 1.5 billion over the last decade, coalfield areas are still a special case; commends this investment along with the work of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) and the National Coalfields Programme; and calls on the Government to extend its three-year funding agreement with the CRT, establish a small grants or loans scheme for small and medium enterprises who are struggling in the current economic climate, and ensure that all investment is as effectively targeted as possible and in consultation with local authorities.

Sponsored by:
Lisa Nandy (Labour)