HC Deb 23 July 1984 vol 64 cc705-6
11. Mr. Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many persons employed by the National Coal Board retired from, or voluntarily left, coal mining in the last year.

Mr. Peter Walker

I understand from the National Coal Board that 21,641 men voluntarily left coal mining in the financial year 1983–84.

Mr. Chapman

Is not that figure in stark contrast to the fact that no mine worker has been forcibly made redundant in the past year? Bearing in mind that the Government have also vastly improved the redundant mine workers' payment scheme, are not those two facts evidence that the Government are adopting a sensible, sensitive and statesmanlike approach to a great industry, which offers our country a great future?

Mr. Walker

There is no doubt that the early retirement and the voluntary redundancy provisions are more generous than those in any other industry in this country and more generous than those in any other coal industry in the world.

Mr. Bell

As the right hon. Gentleman says that 21,641 men took voluntary redundancy last year, why on earth did he allow the NCB to put forward a provocative package that has resulted in a 19-week strike?

Mr. Walker

The provocative package to which the hon. Gentleman refers was a package which contained a guarantee that there would not be a single compulsory redundancy.

Mr. Eggar

How many coal faces have been irretrievably lost as a result of the present strike, and how many jobs are likely to be lost as a result of the general geological deterioration of pits?

Mr. Walker

It is impossible to give an accurate figure. In reply to another question we mentioned the collieries that are now causing concern, but there is no doubt that serious geological damage is being done.

Mr. Orme

The Secretary of State has given his interpretation of the negotiations that were adjourned last week, but, having spoken to both sides in the dispute—unlike the right hon. Gentleman— I can tell him that that is not my reading of the situation. Will he now meet Mr. Scargill and listen to his interpretation of the talks?

Mr. Walker

I have informed all union leaders connected with my Department that if any of them at any time wishes to talk to us, we would be only too willing to respond. The right hon. Gentleman spoke about the accurate interpretation of those talks. He knows that the Leader of the Opposition, presumably on somebody's advice, said that the leaders of the NUM had asked for talks to go on the next morning, but had been refused. However, I am pleased to say that the NCB has issued a statement saying that that was totally untrue.