Ellington Colliery

EDM number 965 in 1998-99, proposed by Denis Murphy on 01/11/1999.

That this House notes with grave concern the announcement from RJB Mining that they are to cease production at Ellington Colliery, the last deep coal mine in Northumberland; expresses further concern that the closure of Ellington Colliery will result in a loss of over 400 jobs in an area of south east Northumberland, where unemployment is already twice the national average; recognises that the workforce has consistently proved its ability to exceed production targets and produce a profit for RJB; believes that, given the opportunity, it could continue to produce coal for local markets for several years to come; calls upon RJB Mining to recognise the contribution Ellington Colliery has made to the considerable profits that they have enjoyed over recent years and urgently to reconsider their decision to cease production; recognises that one of the problems is the result of foreign coal being 'dumped' in the UK; and urges Her Majesty's Government to tackle this problem and also to provide any assistance it can to help to safeguard the jobs at Ellington Colliery.

This motion has been signed by a total of 31 MPs.