Small Surface Mines

HC Deb 16 July 1956 vol 556 cc844-5

36. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many small surface mines exist in the United Kingdom; and what is the average annual production of coal from such mines.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Fuel and Power (Mr. David Renton)

There are about 500 licensed small mines producing together about 2 million tons of coal a year.

37. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to include those who work in small surface mines in all schemes of welfare and superannuation promoted by the Board.

Mr. Renton

No, Sir. The men employed at small mines licensed by the National Coal Board already benefit from the activities of the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation, and there are arrangements under which small mine licensees can arrange for their workers to participate in the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme, the application of those arrangements to a particular mine being a matter for negotiation between the employers and workers concerned.

Mr. Swingler

As the workers in the small mines make a valuable contribution to coal production, would it not be an advantage to put their conditions on a basis entirely equal to that of the workers in deep mines? If the N.C.B. would take the initiative, would it not be possible to extend a uniform basis of the welfare and superannuation conditions introduced for mine workers in the deep mines to the small mine workers?

Mr. Renton

Workers in the small mines are already to a great extent on the same basis as miners employed by the National Coal Board. That is due to the fact that, for most of the small mines, there are attached to the licence conditions to the effect that conditions relating to wages and hours of work and so on agreed between the National Coal Board and its employees shall be observed.

Miss Herbison

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, in one instance, there is a very great difference? Is he aware that ex-miners who have spent most of their working lives in the mines and, perhaps, the last few in a licensed mine do not get concessionary coal when they have to stop work, whereas those who spend all their time working for the N.C.B. do get it in the last few years? Is he aware that that makes a very great difference to a man living on the old-age pension?

Mr. Renton

That is a separate question of which I should wish to have notice.