Coal Mining (Hansard, 6 July 1979)

§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyne
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the aggregate production of deep-mined coal from United Kingdom coal fields and aggregate output per man-shift, in the latest period of 12 months for which details are available; what were the corresponding figures for the period of 12 months prior to introduction of the pit productivity scheme; and what has been the aggregate cost of that scheme to date.

§ Mr. John Moore
, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27 June 1979; Vol. 969, c. 259], gave the following further answer:
Overall output per man-shift was 2.23 tonnes in the 12 months to 16 June 1979 compared with 2.20 tonnes in the 12 months to 29 October 1977, but with lower average manpower—233,000 against 241,500—deep-mined output was some 2 million tonnes less at 105.7 million tonnes. Because there was a steadily declining output before the introduction of the productivity arrangements, the above comparison substantially understates the benefits of the arrangements. I am asking the chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Member on his question about costs.
743W

§ Mr. Richard Shepherd
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what profit or loss was made by the National Coal Board from deep mining, opencast mining and other activities, respectively, in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years.

§ Mr. John Moore
, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27 June 1979; Vol. 969 c. 260], gave the following further answer:

OPERATING PROFIT OR LOSS

£ millions

Opencast Mining Collieries—including housing and miscellaneous Total Other activities

1977–78 … … … 88.1 -8.9 79.2 15.1

1976–77 … … … 65.4 22.8 88.2 15.4

1975–76 … … … 63.1 -38.5 24.6 21.6

1974–75 … … … 46.6 -43.1 3.5 30.3

1973–74 … … … 15.7 -142.6 -126.9 14.6

1972–73 … … … 19.4 -68.7 -49.3 9.9

1971–72 … … … 14.3 -131.1 -116.8 -3.6

1970–71 … … … 16.4 9.5 25.9 8.2

1969–70 … … … 7.3 -7.6 -0.3 9.1

1968–69 … … … 5.0 16.4 21.4 6.8

1967–68 … … … 6.3 25.4 31.7 2.9

OPERATING PROFIT OR LOSS
£ millions
				Opencast	Mining Collieries—including housing and miscellaneous	Total	Other activities
1977–78	…	…	…	88.1	-8.9	79.2	15.1
1976–77	…	…	…	65.4	22.8	88.2	15.4
1975–76	…	…	…	63.1	-38.5	24.6	21.6
1974–75	…	…	…	46.6	-43.1	3.5	30.3
1973–74	…	…	…	15.7	-142.6	-126.9	14.6
1972–73	…	…	…	19.4	-68.7	-49.3	9.9
1971–72	…	…	…	14.3	-131.1	-116.8	-3.6
1970–71	…	…	…	16.4	9.5	25.9	8.2
1969–70	…	…	…	7.3	-7.6	-0.3	9.1
1968–69	…	…	…	5.0	16.4	21.4	6.8
1967–68	…	…	…	6.3	25.4	31.7	2.9