§ 6. Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the average output per manshift for National Coal Board coal mines for the last five years.
§ Mr. EadieThe overall average output per manshift in hundredweights for NCB coal mines for the last five years is:
| 1971 | … | … | … | … | 43.9 |
| 1972 | … | … | … | … | 43.8 |
| 1973 | … | … | … | … | 45.2 |
| 1974 | … | … | … | … | 42.8 |
| 1975 | … | … | … | … | 44.9 |
§ The 1972 and 1974 figures were affected by strikes.
§ Mr. BottomleyI am grateful for that answer. Besides the low level of increase, taking a trend, what success have the Government and the Coal Board had in finding alternative employment in areas where there are low-output, high health risk and high-cost coalfields?
§ Mr. EadieIf the hon. Member tables a Question to the relevant Secretary of State I am sure that he will be happy to answer him. If what prompted the hon. Gentleman's Question is concern about the general condition of the mining industry, I am happy to be able to tell him that there was an improvement in output per manshift in February, when the figure was 46.3 cwt. The Coal Board's projected target for 1976–77 is 46.5 cwt.
§ Mr. Patrick McNair-WilsonDoes the Under-Secretary agree that the fall in the international value of sterling and the effect this has on our oil import bill and, therefore, our balances of payments makes the need for a really effective coal industry more important than ever before? Does he further agree that the present productivity deal is a failure, in that the award has been paid only once? Will he urge upon all those concerned the need speedily to arrive at a productivity deal that truly reflects the tremendous effort made by so many people in the industry?
§ Mr. EadieI could not agree more with the hon. Gentleman that a very 8 strong and viable coal industry is in the best interests of this country. I have said before from this Dispatch Box that increased coal consumption can help Britain to fight back towards economic recovery. The question of the productivity deal is primarily a matter between the unions and the National Coal Board. The agendas for the various forthcoming conferences show that this is a matter that will be discussed by the unions in an attempt to resolve the problem the hon. Gentleman mentioned.
§ Mr. CryerDoes my hon. Friend agree that the figures he has given show that productivity has increased? Will he assure the House that there will be no sacrifice of men's lives and limbs in the pursuit of productivity? Does he not agree that coal mining is one of the most dangerous of occupations, that the Opposition who make these criticisms have never dirtied their hands in their lives, either by mining coal or by doing anything else, and that safety first is the important motto for the mining industry and, indeed, for all other industries?
§ Mr. EadieThere is certainly a great need to have a very efficient coal-producing industry. A study of the history—particularly the recent history—of discussions between unions, the Coal Board and the Government is rewarding. For example, my hon. Friend will find from a study of the document issued following the tripartite inquiry that was held when this Government came into office in 1974 that although the three parties engaged in a great many discussions relative to the progress the industry could make, one thing that was paramount in all the discussions was that safety was to be at the fore, and that coal must not be won at the expense of miners' lives.
§ Mr. HannamIs the Under-Secretary aware that in many other countries, including the United States of America, Germany, Poland and Russia, miners who have completed 25 years' service are allowed to retire early, at the age of 55, with full pension? In view of the Prime Minister's support for early retirement, will the Government carry out negotiations with a view to working out an early retirement scheme for miners?
§ Mr. EadieI said in answer to the hon. Member for New Forest (Mr. McNair-Wilson) that discussions are 9 always taking place on these matters at miners' annual conferences. It is no secret that for many years it has been the policy of the National Union of Mineworkers that there should be early retirement for miner-workers. When we debated this matter in Standing Committee, I said that we must be perfectly clear about what we mean by early retirement. I hope that we mean proper pension provision and that we are not talking about early unemployment for miners.