🔥 Coalfield Communities

Commons Chamber

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In a passionate debate, MPs from various constituencies with mining histories urged the government to support coalfield communities, emphasizing both their proud pasts and the urgent need for future investment and regeneration. Adam Jogee, leading the debate, highlighted the historical significance of mining in Newcastle-under-Lyme and the need for justice in pension schemes for former miners. The discussion also focused on economic revitalization, with suggestions for long-term funding and infrastructure improvements to address ongoing issues such as unemployment and health inequalities in these areas. The government responded by affirming its commitment to these communities, promising action on pension injustices and support for economic growth initiatives.

Summary

  • Adam Jogee highlighted the rich coalmining history of Newcastle-under-Lyme, referencing the closure of the Silverdale colliery and the Diglake disaster of 1895, which claimed 77 lives.

  • The debate emphasized the need for government support to provide opportunities, investment, and focus on coalfield communities across the UK, reflecting on their past and planning for their future.

  • MPs discussed the disparity in pensions between the mineworkers pension scheme and the British Coal staff superannuation scheme, urging the government to address this inequality promptly.

  • Issues of economic regeneration and the need for long-term investment in former mining communities were raised, pointing out higher levels of unemployment and lower wages compared to other regions.

  • MPs from various constituencies, including Chesterfield, Easington, and Cannock Chase, emphasized the importance of economic development and the empowerment of local leaders to foster growth and regeneration.

  • The transition to a green economy was mentioned as a potential future for these communities, with initiatives like mine water heat projects and solar technology development highlighted as examples.

  • The health disparities in coalfield communities were a significant concern, with average life expectancy being lower than the national average, underscoring the need for improved healthcare.

  • The debate touched on the Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s role and its funding challenges, calling for renewed government support to continue its work in supporting these communities.

  • There was a strong call for infrastructure improvements in these areas, such as better transport links and the restoration of historical sites to preserve cultural heritage and boost local economies.

  • MPs urged the government to learn from past mistakes in handling industrial transitions to ensure a more just transition as the economy moves away from reliance on fossil fuels.

Divisiveness

The session on Government support for coalfield communities showed minimal disagreement among the participants. Most contributions were focused on highlighting the historical significance of coalfield communities, the need for economic revitalization, and addressing specific issues such as the mineworkers’ pension scheme and the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS). The general tone was one of solidarity and a shared mission to support these communities, rather than contention or opposition.

Key examples that illustrate the lack of disagreement include:

  1. Support for Pension Schemes: Various speakers, including Adam Jogee, Grahame Morris, and others, uniformly called for justice and urgency regarding the mineworkers’ pension scheme and the BCSSS, showing a unified stance on these issues.

  2. Calls for Economic Regeneration: There was a consistent call from Members such as Josh MacAlister, Toby Perkins, and Jo Platt for more government support in the form of economic regeneration and the establishment of long-term plans for coalfield areas. These calls were made without significant disagreement from other Members.

  3. Historical and Cultural Pride: Many members, including Jade Botterill and Ian Lavery, spoke with pride about the historical contributions of coalfield communities. There was no opposition or disagreement to this sentiment; rather, it was echoed and reinforced by other speakers.

  4. Devolution and Local Control: The Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon, and other speakers supported the idea of devolution and more local control over resources and planning. This was met with agreement rather than opposition.

  5. Interventions: Most interventions during the speeches were supportive or seeking further collaboration, rather than challenging the points made by the speakers. For example, Jim Shannon’s intervention on Adam Jogee’s speech supported a joint UK strategy, which was met with agreement.

While there were some gentle reminders and challenges regarding past government actions and promises, these did not escalate into significant disagreements. For instance, Toby Perkins’ comment on the lack of Conservative attendance was a mild point of contention but did not lead to a broader dispute.

Overall, the debate was characterized by a shared goal and minimal contention, warranting a low disagreement rating.