§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what, in the light of the ending of the miners' strike, he estimates will be the production of deep-mined coal in 1985; and what are the revised projections for 1986–87.
§ Mr. David HuntDeep-mined coal production in 1985 will be seriously affected by the strike in the coal industry and its aftermath. I am not in a position to forecast the precise level of deep-mined production in 1985 or later years.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what, in the light of the ending of the miners' strike, is the current average cost of producing deep-mined coal from National Coal Board pits.
§ Mr. David HuntThe average cost of producing deep-mined coal has been distorted by the effects of industrial action in the coal industry since mid-1983, and will continue to be so affected for many months until the NCB has fully recovered from the effects of the strike. A meaningful figure for current average production costs is therefore impossible to determine. It is the Government's objective that the industry should reduce its average costs and return to profitability.