Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has of the potential number of job losses in the coal production and distribution sector if the burning of house coal is banned; and if he will make a statement.

The Government has consulted on proposals to phase out sales of the most polluting domestic fuels in England, including traditional ‘smokey’ house coal. As part of the consultation we asked businesses for their views on the impacts of this policy.