Morris detailed the historical significance of mining communities, including the cultural impact on towns and villages. He noted that life was hard but meaningful in these areas during his childhood and highlighted how coal played a critical role in creating national wealth. The closure of Easington colliery marked the end of full employment for all ages and abilities, leading to economic challenges. Morris called for levelling-up funding to be prioritised in deprived mining communities rather than affluent ones. He also emphasised the need to address past injustices by reforming the mineworkers' pension scheme.

Cash briefly intervened to express his support for miners and acknowledged his work in fighting for them during the miners' strike. He highlighted his role as vice-chair of the all-party group on coalfield communities, underscoring his long-standing affection for miners.

Jones agreed with Morris that the levelling-up agenda is mainly focused on capital investment but noted that services have been devastated due to a loss of £240 million in grants from Durham County Council over 14 years.

Mr Grundy highlighted the importance of securing funding for former mining communities, discussing successful bids for £20 million in various regeneration projects such as Leigh Infirmary and market refurbishment. He also mentioned a bid for Tyldesley heritage action zone worth £1 million and ongoing efforts to secure transport funding from HS2 cancellations. Mr Grundy emphasised the need for better allocation models for future levelling-up funds, given that local authorities have sometimes refused bids or proposed inadequate projects.

Mr Bryant expressed concern about the bureaucratic process surrounding levelling-up fund applications, noting that his local authority faced numerous challenges in securing funds despite multiple attempts. He criticised the Government for leading authorities through a 'merry dance' of unsuitable bid requirements and non-existent rounds.

McGinn, as a former chair of the all-party parliamentary group on coalfield communities and MP for St Helens North, emphasised the importance of remembering the miners' strike of 1984. He acknowledged the moral vacuum in the then government's policies that led to significant hardship for mining communities and criticised the state’s abuse of power. He also highlighted the positive legacy of mining heritage, including the work done by organisations such as the North West Miners Heritage Association and the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. McGinn discussed current regeneration projects like Parkside in his constituency, which was the last Lancashire colliery to close in 1993, now being redeveloped with tens of millions of pounds in funding. He also mentioned the importance of supporting miners’ pensioners such as Colin Rooney and the need for more jobs, skills, and business growth based on the 'State of the Coalfields' report.

Mining has been a topic of personal relevance to me since long before I became an MP. My constituency, Sedgefield, is rich in mining heritage with several mines having closed over 50 years ago. The traditions such as the annual miners gala and brass bands are strong cultural assets of these communities. We must also ensure that Members remember our roots and work together to celebrate mining history and encourage future prosperity. In my area, Redhills was known as the pitmen’s Parliament where each mine had a representative chair. I support better transport connections for isolated mining villages as it is critical for social mobility. The reopening of Ferryhill station and the Leamside line are transformational for improving rail connectivity.

I support the push to reopen the Leamside line, which would connect our constituencies even more closely. The new North East Mayor must commit to this project for it to be transformational for thousands of people who currently have limited transport options.

Ferryhill station's reopening is critical for economic regeneration and job opportunities in former mining villages. The area requires improved transport links, better education outcomes, and continued industrial growth to support communities' aspiration and recovery.

The 1984 miners’ strike had a devastating impact on mining communities; many former miners suffer from health issues due to their work conditions. The mineworkers' pension scheme is inadequate, and the 'take it or leave it' deal during privatisation was unfair. The Government should support economic recovery through improved infrastructure, apprenticeships, and addressing pension inequities.

Cornwall has a rich mining heritage dating back to the Bronze Age, contributing significantly during the Industrial Revolution. The area pioneered innovations like the high-pressure steam engine and safety lamps, which spread worldwide. While china clay extraction remains vital, it now employs fewer people than before, leading to socio-economic challenges in communities historically reliant on mining. However, there are signs of regeneration with new housing developments, improvements in transportation infrastructure, and investment in healthcare and education facilities. A promising future lies in lithium extraction, estimated to meet 50% of UK battery manufacturing needs for electric vehicles. This presents an opportunity to secure a domestic supply while ensuring high environmental and ethical standards, potentially capturing more economic value locally.

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Grahame Morris) for securing this important debate to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1984 miners’ strike. Miners had no choice but to strike because they knew exactly what was at stake not just for themselves, but for their families, their villages and the entire country even. At the very least, the Government owe an apology to the miners and their families. We need a public inquiry into the events of the strike, including those at Orgreave. The contribution of working-class women during that strike cannot be underestimated; they provided heroic work, all done on a shoestring, all done in the spirit of working-class solidarity. Since the destruction and closure of the pits we have seen continuous health and economic inequality, and my hon. Friend is right that we are one of the poorest regions, and we desperately need to do something because, as has been pointed out, the miners created the wealth of this country in the first place.

I am one of those women who were politicised by Margaret Thatcher. She smote our communities. If all our mining communities were clustered together into one region, even today that region would statistically be the poorest region in the country.

Lavery declares his involvement as a former miner and expresses pride in his community's solidarity during the miners' strike. He outlines the brutal treatment faced by striking miners, including arrests and police brutality, and calls for a public inquiry into policing practices of that time. Additionally, he discusses the need to redress the mineworkers' pension scheme anomaly, which has resulted in significant financial losses for retired miners.

Hodgson intervenes to support Lavery's speech, emphasising the importance of educating younger generations about the period during the miners' strike. She highlights how communities were treated as if they were in a police state, with men being stopped and questioned merely for travelling across the country.

The hon. Member emphasised the importance of addressing challenges faced by former coalfield communities across Wales, Scotland and England, highlighting issues such as job quality and economic growth disparities. She called for an end to a city-centric model of development and advocated for a new model that focuses on growing local economies with long-term financial support. The speaker also highlighted the need for reinvesting funds from previous programmes into coalfield communities and expressed concerns about the management of assets by CISWO (Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation). She urged the Government to act urgently on this matter and called for fairer distribution of surpluses in the mineworkers’ pension scheme.

The consequences of coalmine closures and deprivation in former coalmining communities are well documented. East Ayrshire has a high proportion of deprived areas, with 40% being among Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities. Coalfield communities face lower incomes, worse health outcomes, and fewer employment opportunities compared to other Scottish communities.

The hon. Member represents the entirety of the Selby super-pit and understands the impact of coalmine closures on local communities. He emphasises the need for dignity, recognition, and support for ex-mineworkers and their families. The mineworkers’ pension scheme has seen over £4 billion transferred to the Government since 1994, yet mineworkers have not received fair shares from it. Boris Johnson's promise in 2019 regarding the scheme was broken by his government, leading to indignity for retired workers. The Labour party aims to reform the pension scheme to provide better support and recognition for ex-mineworkers.

Mr. Bonnar commended the hon. Member for Easington and emphasised the rich mining heritage of his constituency, highlighting tragedies such as the Auchengeich pit disaster in 1959 and Cardowan Colliery disaster in 1932. He acknowledged the resilience of community members who work to ensure these tragedies are not forgotten. As a grandson of a miner, he spoke about the scars left by mining life and the importance of solidarity with miners who chose to strike during difficult times. Mr. Bonnar highlighted steps taken by the Scottish Government, such as the Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Act 2022, and urged the UK Government to follow suit in offering compensation for those affected. He also called for a public inquiry into the miners' strike and stressed the need for recognition of mining heritage through projects like the Summerlee Museum bid in Coatbridge.

Mr. Grant intervened, mentioning his great-grandfather who settled in Scotland to work in mines near Mr. Bonnar’s constituency. He agreed with the need for greater recognition of miners' bravery and heroism when they risked their lives entering burning pits to save friends.

Congratulates the Member for Easington on securing the debate and acknowledges the scale of the issue in Wales. Discusses her family history with mining, highlighting the impact it has had on Welsh politics and society. She emphasises that while significant reforms were introduced post-World War II to help miners and their families, many problems remain unresolved today, including poverty, malnutrition, unemployment, and health issues. The speech also addresses specific challenges facing former mining communities such as inadequate broadband speeds, difficulties in attracting investment, and the need for better services. Griffith raises concerns about the quality of concessionary coal given to former miners, highlighting its poor quality and negative impact on their health and living conditions. She calls for a review of the mineworkers pension scheme to ensure miners receive fair treatment and urges the Government to take responsibility in securing decent coal supplies. Griffith also discusses the ongoing issue of coal tip safety and advocates for urgent investment. Furthermore, she demands an inquiry into the Orgreave incident and supports the adoption of a full Hillsborough law. Finally, she highlights the need for a just transition towards new industries that provide training, jobs, and investment.

Congratulates his colleague on securing the debate. Reflects on the changes in North Durham over 23 years, highlighting the impact of coal mining closures and the social fabric's destruction. Mentions that life expectancy is lower than other areas due to poor health conditions and a legacy of unemployment, deprivation, and poverty. Criticises the Government’s levelling up initiative as ineffective and describes it as a 'con'. Emphasises the need for investment in employment, training, and healthcare.

Commemorated the 40th anniversary of the miners' strike, highlighting the enduring impact on mining communities. He emphasised the importance of a full inquiry into the actions and decisions of Thatcher's Government during that period. Owen also spoke about his Miners’ Strike (Pardons) Bill which aims to mirror the Scottish pardon for miners convicted during the strike. He expressed disappointment at the lack of support from the Labour party leader on this issue and called for immediate action on implementing recommendations regarding the miners' pension surplus.

The coal industry has a profound impact on communities in the north-east of England, with its history deeply ingrained. The closure of mines caused significant upheaval, leading to long-term economic challenges such as low employment rates and high levels of economic inactivity. Labour aims to address these issues through initiatives like the green prosperity plan, which focuses on creating secure, clean jobs and improving economic justice for former mining communities.

Representing a coalfield seat, Lee Rowley acknowledges the importance of celebrating the legacy of mining while also recognising its challenges. He emphasises his personal connection to the mining heritage and the need for ongoing support and recognition of this community's contributions.

As a good Welshman, I am honoured to put the Question.