Coal Industry

HC Deb 28 January 1985 vol 72 cc41-2W

21. Mr. Gerald Howarth

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the strike in the coal mining industry.

22. Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on the strike in the coal mining industry.

23. Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he will next meet the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss the present state of the coal industry.

27. Mr. Rogers

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends to meet the chairman of the National Coal Board to discuss the present coal mining dispute.

29. Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the current situation in the coal mining industry.

Mr. Peter Walker

I refer to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell).

26. Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he makes of the extent to which the current dispute has reduced the long-term market for coal.

Mr. David Hunt

The extent of the long-term damage will depend on the terms on which the dispute is settled. Clear recognition by all concerned of the economic realities of coal production should permit the National Coal Board to win a substantial market based on assured and competitively priced supplies.

28. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the numbers of mineworkers resuming work since the beginning of 1985.

Mr. David Hunt

So far in 1985, 10,159 former strikers have returned to work throughout the British coalfield.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the coal output lost as a result of the industrial dispute in the industry; and if he w ill make a statement.

Mr. David Hunt

Published figures show that between the start of the overtime ban on 1 November 1983 and 27 October 1984 an estimated 55,694,000 tonnes of deep-mined output are estimated to have been lost to the National Coal Board as a result of the dispute. However, we still have very high stocks at both the pits and the power stations.

24. Mr. Orme

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what response he has made to the leaders of the Council of Churches in Wales and the Roman Catholic Church in calling on the Government to set up an independent review body to examine the future of the coal industry.

Mr. Peter Walker

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that I met the leaders of both the British Council of Churches and the Council of Churches for Wales last week. I share the concern expressed by the churches about the damage this pointless dispute is inflicting on the mining industry and its communities. Like them, I also wish for a swift settlement that will offer the industry a viable future.