HC Deb 27 October 1986 vol 103 cc6-9
4. Mr. Willie W. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the decline in the total manpower in the mining industry since the end of the miners' strike; and how many of those men are still seeking employment in the industry.

Mr. David Hunt

Since the end of the miners' strike to 4 October 1986 the total number of men on colliery books has fallen by 46,732 to 125,631. No part of this reduction was due to compulsory redundancy. The output from the deep mine sector of the coal industry is virtually unchanged.

Mr. Hamilton

Does the Minister recognise how disturbing the figures are? What will be the trend for manpower in the mining industry in the next five or 10 years? Does the hon. Gentleman recognise that in areas such as Fife male unemployment is well in excess of 30 per cent.? Does he agree that the men who have been victimised by British Coal, although they were guilty of no offence before the courts, were subject to a measure of victimisation which is indefensible by any standards? Will the Minister make representations, particularly to the Scottish management, to cease such victimisation in the interests of improved industrial relations?

Mr. Hunt

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the question of dismissed miners is a matter for British Coal management. Instead of highlighting and distorting figures, the hon. Gentleman should recognise that British Coal is taking urgent measures to ensure that coal is more competitive. When the hon. Gentleman talks about a reduction in numbers, will he please recall that between 1964 and 1970, under Labour Governments, manpower in Scotland went down from 54,600 to 30,200 — a significant reduction of 24,400.

Mr. Lofthouse

What manpower figures is British Coal budgeting for in 1987–88? If that target is not reached by voluntary redundancies, will there be compulsory redundancies?

Mr. Hunt

The hon. Gentleman is right to highlight the fact that there have been no compulsory redundancies. That remains British Coal policy. Future output will depend on coal continuing to win a significant share in the highly competitive energy market place.

Mr. Heddle

When my hon. Friend visits Lea Hall colliery, at Rugeley in my constituency, tomorrow, will he pay tribute to the 80 per cent. of the work force there who continued to work during the strike, despite, and in the face of, the most vicious victimisation? Is not the only way to keep jobs and improve job prospects in Rugeley to ensure that affairs are run on truly democratic lines?

Mr. Hunt

I very much look forward, not only to going underground at Lea Hall tomorrow, but to meeting the leaders of the work force, to show them that there is one political party and one Government who have not forgotten the tremendous debt owed by this country to those working miners who kept the industry in being during that unnecessary and tragic strike.

Mr. Canavan

Is the Minister not aware that there are still outstanding cases of miners who were unfairly dismissed during the strike, who took their cases to industrial tribunals and won them, yet who have not been reinstated because of the intransigence of British Coal? Will the hon. Gentleman tell the chairman of British Coal that it is about time those men were reinstated, in the interests of natural justice and good industrial relations, and that it should not continue to victimise them?

Mr. Hunt

The hon. Gentleman should recognise that although more than 1,000 miners were dismissed as a direct result of the 1984–85 strike, more than half of them —527—have since been taken back by British Coal. The chairman recently announced his intention to hold a final internal review of outstanding cases of alleged unfair dismissal. It is a matter for British Coal to determine.

Mr. Neil Hamilton

Is my hon. Friend aware that the private sector of the coal industry is anxious to expand coal production and also the number of jobs available in the industry? Does he agree that it is madness to maintain the restrictions on private sector output at their current low levels, and that they should be increased?

Mr. Hunt

I agree that the private sector makes a very significant contribution to our coal industry, not only through its 154 deep mines, but through the private licensed sector. It is good that that output has continued to rise over recent years, and projections are that it will continue to do so.

Mr. O'Brien

The Minister referred to the need for the coal industry to be competitive so as to maintain employment levels. Will he bear in mind that whereas 150 million tonnes of coal were produced in 1974, the figure has now dropped to 90 million tonnes? Will he further bear in mind the unused development capital in the industry and consider writing off some of that so that interest charges will not be a charge on the industry, which would allow it to expand and create more jobs?

Mr. Hunt

Under this Government taxpayers' money has been used to the best possible advantage by maintaining a record level of investment, mainly in existing collieries rather than in new ones. Since 1979 investment has totalled almost £5 billion, which is far in excess of anything ever projected under any Labour Government.

Mr. Marlow

What would be the effect on employment in the coal industry if Mr. Arthur Scargill were to chuck in his appointment as life president of the National Union of Mineworkers and seek, together with Bernie Grant and at least two members of Militant Tendency and sundry others, to join this House in the Labour persuasion at the next general election?

Mr. Hunt

My hon. Friend has rightly pointed out the true face of the Labour party. It will be interesting to see the reaction of the Labour leadership to the increasing number of Militant candidates.

Mrs. Clwyd

The Minister has said many times this afternoon that there have been no compulsory redundancies in the coal industry. Is that not somewhat misleading, when many men who had worked for as much as 25 years in certain skills in the coal industry were offered only unskilled work when they transferred to other pits? Therefore, there was no real choice for them.

Mr. Hunt

I shall merely repeat that it is a commitment of British Coal that men who are made redundant will have had an opportunity of continuing to work in the industry. Instead of constantly making party political points, I would prefer the hon. Lady to join me in trying to work for further markets for coal and in recognising the fact that, in South Wales, British Coal Enterprise Ltd. has now broken all previous records in providing 2,796 new jobs. The hon. Lady should concentrate her energies on helping 13ritish Coal Enterprise Ltd., instead of making such points.

Mr. Douglas

Will the Minister concede that, particularly in Scotland, there has been a great diminution in mining employment? Will he give the figures for the period of office of the Tory Government, from 1979 until now, showing that diminution, particularly in West Fife? Will he concede the point that has been made that, in the interests of good industrial relations, it is essential that the new director in Scotland takes an active part in removing the stigma of the victimised miners, so that we may return to stability and good understanding?

Mr. Hunt

I shall let the hon. Gentleman have the detailed figures, but the point that I was making to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) is that there is some humbug on the part of the Labour party in failing to recognise that there were significant numbers of redundancies in the coal industry before this Government came into office. Under this Government coal is regaining its rightful competitive place in the energy market.

Mr. Orme

Is the Minister aware that there is still great concern about the reinstatement of sacked miners in the coalfields? Will the internal review to which he referred also consider cases of miners who have won their case at an industrial tribunal? If not, natural justice will not be carried out.

Mr. Hunt

The chairman of British Coal has made it clear that he will not put himself in the place of an industrial tribunal in seeking to review any decision that has already been made. He has also made it clear that he is willing to have a final internal review to look at all outstanding cases of alleged unfair dismissal. I wish that the right hon. Gentleman would join us in making it clear that no one convicted of serious violence, harassment, or intimidation, or of breaches of the mines and quarries legislation, will be taken back. That is British Coal's position. It has every right to look to the hon. Gentleman for some support from time to time.