National Coal Board (Hansard, 31 January 1983)

§ 24. Mr. Hardy
asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he will next meet the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss investment in the industry.

§ Mr. John Moore
I and my right hon. Friend regularly meet the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss all aspects of the coal industry including investment.

§ Mr. Skeet
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will update the figure in the answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on 1 April 1974, Official Report, c. 257–62, relating to surpluses and deficiencies of nationalised industries in so far as they relate to the National Coal Board.

§ Mr. John Moore
The annual report and accounts of the National Coal Board show the following surpluses or deficiencies:34W

Year Outturn prices £ million 1973 prices £ million

1972–73 83.7† 90.7†

1973–74 205.7† 204.3†

1974–75 37.8† 32.0†

1975–76 5.3^* 3.6^*

1976–77 27.2^* 16.1^*

1977–78 20.4^* 10.3^*

1978–79 69.4† 32.8†

1979–80 159.3† 64.2†

1980–81 206.8† 71.8†

1981–82 428.3† 133.8†

^* Surpluses.

† Deficiencies.

Notes:
The results shown are given after interest, taxation and Government grants for specific purposes but before Government grants to meet deficits on revenue account including regional grants. The figures are on a historic cost accounting basis and reflect changes in the NCB's accounting policies in each year, as set out in the board's accounts.
The index used for conversion to 1973 prices is based on changes in the internal purchasing power of the pound, and is published in the CSO Annual Digest of Statistics 1983.

§ Mr. Skeet
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will update the figures in the answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on 5 April 1974, Official Report, c. 473–76, relating to the percentage of fixed investment financed from internal resources by nationalised industries in so far as they relate to the National Coal Board.

§ Mr. John Moore
The percentages in the following table show the proportion of the NCB's capital requirements, including fixed assets and investments, financed from "internal resources".
For the purposes of column (a), the figures include not only the contributions from the NCB's own resources but also Government subsidies towards deficits on revenue account and grants paid for specific purposes. These figures are on a basis consistent with that used in providing the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on 5 April 1974. For the purposes of column (b), the figures include contributions from the NCB's internal resources before Government grants.

Column (a) per cent. Column (b) per cent.

1973–74 ^*0.0 -244.44

1974–75 48.6 1.65

1975–76 71.5 56.51

1976–77 44.8 25.26

1977–78 38.0 16.81

1978–79 23.6 -12.13

1979–80 26.8 -11.23

1980–81 20.0 -11.47

1981–82 34.1 -36.77

^* The figure for 1973–74 does not take account of £130.7 million special grant made (following the capital reconstruction of 1973) to extinguish the year's deficit following the national mineworkers strike.

§ Mr. Skeet
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list for each year since 1947 the average number of mineworkers employed and the number of pits (a) in operation and (b) closed.

§ Mr. John Moore
The National Coal Board has given me the following information.
35W

Number of collieries producing at end of year Average manpower in industrial grades on colliery books Number of collieries ceasing production in year^*

Year ending December

1947 958 703,900 21

1948 940 716,500 35

1949 912 712,500 31

1950 901 690,800 22

1951 896 692,600 10

1952 880 709,700 11

1953 875 707,400 18

1954 867 701,800 19

1955 850 698,700 22

1956 840 697,400 14

1957 822 703,800 19

1958 793 692,700 28

1959 737 658,200 53

1960 698 602,100 35

1961 669 570,500 29

1962 616 550,900 52

Year ending in March

1964† 576 520,100 40

1965 534 491,000 40

1966 483 455,700 52

1967 438 419,400 46

1968 376 391,900 51

1969 317 336,300 55

1970 299 305,100 19

1971 292 287,200 6

1972 289 281,500 3

1973 281 268,000 8

1974 259 252,000 18

1975 246 246,000 10

1976 241 247,100 5

1977 238 242,000 3

1978 231 240,500 5

1979 223 234,900 9

1980 219 232,500 5

1981 211 229,800 9

1982 198 218,500 12

Notes:

^* These totals include pits temporarily ceasing production as well as pits permanently closing. The figure for the year ending March 1982 includes two such pits.

† 15 months period.

Year	Outturn prices £ million	1973 prices £ million
1972–73	83.7†	90.7†
1973–74	205.7†	204.3†
1974–75	37.8†	32.0†
1975–76	5.3^*	3.6^*
1976–77	27.2^*	16.1^*
1977–78	20.4^*	10.3^*
1978–79	69.4†	32.8†
1979–80	159.3†	64.2†
1980–81	206.8†	71.8†
1981–82	428.3†	133.8†
^* Surpluses.
† Deficiencies.

	Column (a) per cent.	Column (b) per cent.
1973–74	^*0.0	-244.44
1974–75	48.6	1.65
1975–76	71.5	56.51
1976–77	44.8	25.26
1977–78	38.0	16.81
1978–79	23.6	-12.13
1979–80	26.8	-11.23
1980–81	20.0	-11.47
1981–82	34.1	-36.77
^* The figure for 1973–74 does not take account of £130.7 million special grant made (following the capital reconstruction of 1973) to extinguish the year's deficit following the national mineworkers strike.

	Number of collieries producing at end of year	Average manpower in industrial grades on colliery books	Number of collieries ceasing production in year^*
Year ending December
1947	958	703,900	21
1948	940	716,500	35
1949	912	712,500	31
1950	901	690,800	22
1951	896	692,600	10
1952	880	709,700	11
1953	875	707,400	18
1954	867	701,800	19
1955	850	698,700	22
1956	840	697,400	14
1957	822	703,800	19
1958	793	692,700	28
1959	737	658,200	53
1960	698	602,100	35
1961	669	570,500	29
1962	616	550,900	52
Year ending in March
1964†	576	520,100	40
1965	534	491,000	40
1966	483	455,700	52
1967	438	419,400	46
1968	376	391,900	51
1969	317	336,300	55
1970	299	305,100	19
1971	292	287,200	6
1972	289	281,500	3
1973	281	268,000	8
1974	259	252,000	18
1975	246	246,000	10
1976	241	247,100	5
1977	238	242,000	3
1978	231	240,500	5
1979	223	234,900	9
1980	219	232,500	5
1981	211	229,800	9
1982	198	218,500	12
Notes:
^* These totals include pits temporarily ceasing production as well as pits permanently closing. The figure for the year ending March 1982 includes two such pits.
† 15 months period.