Prescott: Duty to help mining communities

New Help Promised for Areas Hit by Pit Closures

Speaking at Durham Miners Gala, Mr Prescott spoke of once proud and thriving communities blighted by unemployment, their children deprived of hope.

"We can never bring all the pits back to life, but we can do something for the people who live in mining communities," said Mr Prescott.

"These communities have been hit, first by the pit closures, then by unemployment and decline, and then a third time because, thanks to underestimated unemployment figures, these communities could lose out on European money."

"I believe we have a duty to the coalfield communities to help them breathe life into their towns and villages."

"We must offer help to regenerate those areas which were made victims of Tory policy."

The Deputy Prime Minister said he had asked his department to compile a report on the state of the coalfield communities and what could be done within the department's scope to help them.

He intended to convene a special conference of English Partnerships and representatives of the mining communities to assist in this.

He pledged: "I intend to find help for the mining communities - maximum help from Europe, the welfare-to-work programme, including the Environmental Task Force, help from our own regeneration funds, help through local authority budgets, for example by releasing housing capital receipts, and help through our Regional Development Agencies."