Tom Greatrex MP, Labour’s Shadow Energy Minister, commenting on the Government’s failure to confirm that State Aid for Kellingley and Thoresby, will be completed by March:
“It is vital that David Cameron’s Government does all that it can to secure an economically viable future for the pits and Kellingley and at Thoresby.
“This is an urgent and pressing issue – hundreds of jobs have already been lost and with every day that passes the costs involved in possible State Aid support increase. The Minister’s steadfast refusal to commit to taking a decision before March on progressing the state aid application he will receive by the end of next month is a cruel blow to a workforce and communities seeking some clarity about the future. With every week that passes, the prospects for the deep pits continuing beyond 2015 diminishes.
“It seems the Tory approach is to speak warm words to the industry, prevaricate in Parliament but refuse to set a timescale for taking a decision. Lengthy delays in whether or not to pursue a state aid application help nobody – if David Cameron’s government want to demonstrate their interest in seeking to secure the future of these pits, they should ensure the state aid application is dealt with as a priority and not an afterthought.“
Transcript from this morning’s Oral Questions to the Department for Energy and Climate Change: