§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will compare the age
Germany France Belgium United Kingdom Under 19 … … 5½ 1 7 4½ 20–29 … … 14 15 20½ 16 30–39 … … 26 26 32 19 40–49 … … 39 48 33 23 50–59 … … 15 10 7 29 60 and over … ½ — ½ 8½ Sources: Energy Directorate-General of the Commission of the European Communities; National Coal Board Statistical Tables.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the retirement age for miners in all the EEC countries.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list for those countries in the European Community producing coal, Spain and the USA, ages of retirement and conditions attaching to eligibility for miners.
§ Mr. BennI understand that in the Federal Republic of Germany miners normally retire at 60, and they earn a full pension if they have paid contributions continuously for 25 years. For every year worked underground after the fifth they receive an increment to their pensions. In France, miners can retire at 55 after 30 years' service, or at 50 if 20 of the 30 years have been spent underground. In Belgium surface workers can retire at 60 and underground workers at 55, or at any age—on normal pension—provided they have worked underground for 25 years. Details of the arrangements in Spain and the USA are not available.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the average age for all those engaged in the mining industry; and how many are over 60 years of age.
§ Mr. EadieI am asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to my hon. Friend with this information as soon as possible.320W breakdowns of coal miners working in the United Kingdom with those in the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Belgium and Spain.
§ Mr. EadieThe following table shows the percentage of underground mineworkers in each age band in the coal industries of the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. The figures for Spain are not available.