Industry Correspondent Stephen Evans: "In Wales and Scotland there is concern"

The measures to help speed up regeneration and create new jobs in former pit regions are expected to be unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, on Tuesday.

Only English towns will benefit

But the projects, to be supported by money from the miners' own pension fund, are proposed for communities in England only.

Wales and Scotland are not included in the scheme.

Mr Prescott is expected to make the announcement at a conference in Durham, called to give the government's response to a task force he set up a year ago.

The BBC's Steven Evans: Scheme has been welcomed but concerns for Welsh and Scottish mining towns remain

The task force has made recommendations on how to increase employment, improve the environment and help communities which have been hit by the run down of the coal mining industry.

Enterprise fund

The Coalfield Communities Campaign (CCC), which represents 80 local authorities, wants the government to set up a new enterprise fund to support local firms and help people establish their own businesses.

Whitehall insiders have dubbed the scheme the "Prescott Boys" in memory of the Bevan Boys who kept the mines open during the World War II.

Mr Prescott could also announce moves to renovate former coal board houses which have fallen into disrepair.

CCC chairman Bill Flanagan said: "We eagerly await John Prescott's announcement and hope this marks the start of a great leap forward for former pit communities."

Mining areas have been badly hit by pit closures and the industry's workforce has shrunk from 200,000 to 10,000 since 1981.

It is reported that no one has a job in two-fifths of households in coalfield communities.