§ 15. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many men were employed in the coal mining industry on 28th February 1973, or the latest convenient date; what provisions have been made for an increase up to 300,000 men in the early future, having regard to the increased demand for 2W bituminous coal; and whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers employed in coal mining in each year since 1st January 1947, showing the percentage decline annually.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanAt 17th February 1973, 264,740 men were employed at National Coal Board mines. It is the responsibility of the board to decide the number of men it needs.
The figures requested are as follows:
NATIONAL COAL BOARD NUMBERS EMPLOYED IN COAL MINING Average colliery manpower(thousands) Annual percentage change Year ended December: 1947 703.9 — 1948 716.5 +1.8 1949 712.5 -0.6 1950 690.8 -3.1 1951 692.6 +0.3 1952 709.7 +2.5 1953 711.5 +0.3 707.4* — 1954 701.8 -0.8 1955 698.7 -0.4 1956 697.4 -0.2 1957 703.8 +0.9 1958 692.7 -1.6 1959 658.2 -5.0 1960 602.1 -8.5 1961 570.5 -5.3 Year ended March: 1963† 544.3 -4.6 1964 517.0 -6.7 1965 491.0 -5.0 1966 455.7 -7.2 1967 419.4 -8.0 1968 391.9 -6.6 1969 336.3 -14.2 1970 305.1 -9.3 1971 287.2 -5.9 1972 281.5 -2.0 1973 (estimated) 268.0 -4.8 *Change in definition of number on colliery books. † Fifteen month period.