§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many miners have returned to work since the 172W coal mining dispute began; if he will give the monthly figures of those miners available for work; what is their percentage of the total work force; how much coal is being produced per man; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David HuntI understand from the National Coal Board that since the dispute began there have been 28,000 new faces reporting for work. There are now around 74,000 NCB employees in grades represented by the NUM, and around 107,000 workers in the industry as a whole, not on strike. There are currently 71 pits producing coal.