North East MPs call for green energy projects in region

Grahame Morris (Easington), who has campaigned on miners’ pensions, said investment into new energy infrastructure and generation could help reverse the damage by the closure of pits in the last 40 years.

The debate on Government support for coalfield communities heard that in areas that used to have a colliery, employment, pay and life expectancy are often lower than other areas.

Mr Morris’s Labour colleagues, including former miner and president of the National Union of Mineworkers Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington), lamented the deterioration of community facilities and cohesion.

Mr Morris said: “Moving from coal to clean energy, we can lead the green industrial revolution. The closure of the coalmines marked the end of an era, but just as we powered the last industrial revolution, it’s now time for our communities to lead the next one as we transition to a clean and green economy.”

The North-East England MP said that in east Durham nascent technology using geothermal energy from mines to heat homes could be rolled out across much of the rest of the UK’s coalfields.

“It could provide sufficient heat for all properties in the UK’s coalfield areas, offering a sustainable and affordable alternative to traditional energy.”

He added: “With the right support, we could create new green-collar jobs. We’ve heard about white collar, and blue collar. Let’s have green-collar jobs and position the UK as a global leader in renewable technology.”

Adam Jogee (Newcastle-under-Lyme) told MPs workers in former coalfield areas are paid 6% less than the national average, with 16% of working-age adults on benefits of some sort.

Fellow Labour MP Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Gateshead South) said life expectancy was a year lower than the national average, and three years less than south-east England.

Mr Morris also called for the Government to top up miners’ pensions by releasing £2.3 billion still held in the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS).

The money has been held there since 1994, where the Government guaranteed pensions would increase if the Government could get half of any surplus funds. Since then the Government has taken £3.1 billion, Mr Morris said.

In November the Government said it would review the scheme.

Read next:

Driver in hospital after BMW hits dead horses in A19 crash

‘Rare’ Bittern bird spotted at Rainton Meadows in North East

Four North Yorkshire and North East farm shops named UK best

It is a separate pension fund to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme, from which Rachel Reeves said in last year’s budget the Government would give miners £1.5 billion back.

He said: “I say to the minister, respectfully and specifically to the Treasury, with all respect it’s time to release the £2.3 billion BCSSS investment reserve, so all former mining staff can receive a pension uplift.

“Time is of the essence, thousands of retired miners have already died, with 2,000 passing away each year, that’s from the BCSSS. With many women, who were amongst the lowest paid workers in the coal industry, having worked in pit canteens like my mother, administration and auxiliary roles.”