LACK OF COAL FOR HERITAGE RAILWAYS

That this House notes that there are more than 200 hundred steam engines currently in operation on around a hundred heritage railways covering some 500 miles of track across Britain; further notes that these heritage railways are the product of the blood, sweat and tears of hundreds of steam engine and railway enthusiasts over many years; further notes that these heritage railways attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, boosting tourism in the areas where they operate; further notes that for many children nowadays their encounter with Santa Claus comes on the ubiquitous Santa specials run by these heritage railways; views with alarm the shortage of British steam engine grade coal which is threatening to bring these heritage railways to a standstill; and calls on the Government to take urgent action to secure adequate supplies of British steam engine grade coal to keep the heritage railways bringing delight to so many people up and down the country.