HL Deb 03 December 1984 vol 457 c1203WA
Lord Grimond

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many miners will be made compulsorily redundant during the next five years according to the forecast plans of the National Coal Board.

The Earl of Avon

There are no such forecast plans. The National Coal Board's stated policy is that no miner who wishes to stay in the industry will be made compulsorily redundant. Of course, in exceptional circumstances beyond the board's control, where the industry's assets are destroyed or become unworkable because of strike action or vandalism, it may not be possible to apply this guarantee.