§ 29. Mrs. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the total number of miners and mining apprentices, respectively, employed at the time of nationalisation in Scotland; and how many were employed at the last most convenient date.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (Mr. E. Fernyhough)In December 1946, 75,800 males were employed in Scottish collieries, of whom about 3,300 were under 18. There was then no national apprenticeship scheme.
In March 1968, there were 36,000 males at N.C.B. collieries in Scotland, including 1,690 mining and craft apprentices.
§ Mrs. EwingIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the secrecy shrouding the future of the mining industry in Scotland, the delay over the fuel policy and uncertainty as to the extent of the rundown is drastically affecting recruiting in this industry? Does not he agree that recruiting would be improved if we could have a statement about the minimum annual output? We seek a statement that it will be stabilised. Does not he agree that this would be of assistance, and that the annual output should be a minimum of 50 million tons?
§ Mr. FernyhoughThe hon. Lady should address that question to the appropriate Minister—the Minister of Power. She will know that where colliery closures have taken place or are likely to take place the Government have set up special development areas and have given those 19 areas additional incentives beyond what development areas in general have.
§ Mr. William HamiltonDoes not my hon. Friend agree that if we had a separate Scottish coal industry as is advocated by certain parties we would have no coal industry at all in Scotland?
§ Mr. FernyhoughThat is very likely.