§ Mr. Leighasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the net saving to the taxpayer of phasing out uneconomic coal pits.
§ Mr. David HuntIt is a matter for the National Coal Board to decide which pits are uneconomic, but in the financial year 1983–84 the 10 per cent. of capacity which was most uneconomic lost over £350 million.
§ Mr. Concannonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library a copy of the report by the auditors of the National Coal Board, submitted to him by the board, into increases in provision for surface damage arising from subsidence in the north Nottinghamshire coalfield.
§ Mr. David HuntI understand that the National Coal Board, in making copies of this report available to the Select Committee on Energy, has requested that it be treated in confidence.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Energy what sums of public money have been invested in the coalmining industry in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. David HuntInvestment expenditure by the National Coal Board in each of the last 10 years has been as follows:
163W
£ million 1974–75 145 1975–76 217 1976–77 279
£ million 1977–78 350 1978–79 481 1979–80 661 1980–81 807 1981–82 812 1982–83 842 1983–84 702
§ Mr. Merchantasked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total of all grants paid to the coal industry, expressed as a figure per employee in the industry, in (a) 1980–81, (b) 1981–82, (c) 1982–83 and (d) 1983–84; and what is the estimated equivalent for (e) 1984–85 and (f) 1985–86.
§ Mr. David HuntSubsidy—defined as grants plus expenditure on the redundant mineworkers payments scheme—per employee in the coal industry was £922 in 1980–81, £2,242 in 1981–82, £2,257 in 1982–83 and £5,412 in 1983–84. Figures for 1984–85 and 1985–86 are not available.