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| Kellingley and Thoresby deep mines to hit 1,300 jobs | Kellingley and Thoresby deep mines to hit 1,300 jobs |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two deep pits are to close next year with the loss of 1,300 jobs after the government revealed it is loaning UK Coal £10m for "managed closure". | Two deep pits are to close next year with the loss of 1,300 jobs after the government revealed it is loaning UK Coal £10m for "managed closure". |
| UK Coal plans to close the pits at Kellingley, North Yorkshire, and Thoresby, Nottinghamshire. | UK Coal plans to close the pits at Kellingley, North Yorkshire, and Thoresby, Nottinghamshire. |
| Business Minister Michael Fallon said the taxpayer would face "significant losses and liabilities" in the event of UK Coal's immediate insolvency. | Business Minister Michael Fallon said the taxpayer would face "significant losses and liabilities" in the event of UK Coal's immediate insolvency. |
| Unions have not yet commented on the announcement. | Unions have not yet commented on the announcement. |
| In a written statement to Parliament, Mr Fallon said: "There is no value-for-money case for a level of investment that would keep the deep mines open beyond this managed wind-down period to Autumn 2015." | |
| 'Unique situation' | 'Unique situation' |
| Immediate insolvency, he said, would mean significant losses and liabilities relating to "redundancy and unpaid tax liabilities". | Immediate insolvency, he said, would mean significant losses and liabilities relating to "redundancy and unpaid tax liabilities". |
| "Considering this, the taxpayer is better served by supporting a managed closure of the mines," said Mr Fallon. | "Considering this, the taxpayer is better served by supporting a managed closure of the mines," said Mr Fallon. |
| The proposal, which ministers have been considering since 21 March, would see the two deep pits face a phased shutdown and UK Coal's six surface mines being sold off. | The proposal, which ministers have been considering since 21 March, would see the two deep pits face a phased shutdown and UK Coal's six surface mines being sold off. |
| Mr Fallon said the government's agreement to participate was subject to final terms "that provide adequate protection to taxpayers" as well as assurance of backing from all parties, including the trade unions. | Mr Fallon said the government's agreement to participate was subject to final terms "that provide adequate protection to taxpayers" as well as assurance of backing from all parties, including the trade unions. |
| He said a "rapid response service" would be available to help employees try to find new work and retrain. | He said a "rapid response service" would be available to help employees try to find new work and retrain. |
| Mr Fallon said the directors of UK Coal had approached the government at the end of January to report that a falling coal price, exchange rates and other factors meant that "the viability of the business was potentially in doubt". | Mr Fallon said the directors of UK Coal had approached the government at the end of January to report that a falling coal price, exchange rates and other factors meant that "the viability of the business was potentially in doubt". |
| It is understood that private sector investment will come from rival mining group Hargreaves Services and Harworth Estates, landlord of the two mines. | It is understood that private sector investment will come from rival mining group Hargreaves Services and Harworth Estates, landlord of the two mines. |
| 'Miniscule business' | |
| Mr Fallon said in a separate statement: "We are doing everything we can to help in this unique situation." | Mr Fallon said in a separate statement: "We are doing everything we can to help in this unique situation." |
| Speaking during business questions in the House of Commons, former miner, MP Dennis Skinner who represents Bolsover in Derbyshire, told Business Minister Matthew Hancock: "Are you aware that one of the smallest businesses in Britain now is the mining industry? | |
| "There are three pits left - 1,300 miners are due to be sacked at two of those pits. That will make it a minuscule, small business." | |
| When told there was "a package of support" for the miners, Mr Skinner told the minister he had read it. "It's a load of crap," he said. | |
| Trades Union Congress (TUC) general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Faced with the choice between closing two of the UK's three remaining coal mines next year or of fighting for their future, the government has gone for the short-term option and taken the easy way out." | |
| Do you work at the coal mining pits at Kellingley, North Yorkshire or Thoresby, Nottinghamshire? If you would be willing to be interviewed by the BBC please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject title Coal Mine. | Do you work at the coal mining pits at Kellingley, North Yorkshire or Thoresby, Nottinghamshire? If you would be willing to be interviewed by the BBC please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject title Coal Mine. |