§ Mr. Fallonasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what information he has as to how many tonnes of coal per month were produced by how many miners at how many pits in British Coal northern area (a) in the most recent month for which figures are available and (b) in February 1984; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will provide details of improvements in productivity reported to his Department by British Coal for its northern area.
§ Mr. David HuntThe total deep mine revenue output, number of pits, average men on colliery books and average revenue output per man shift for the north-east area of the NCB in June 1986 and February 1984 were as follows:
June 1986(four weeks) February 1984(four weeks) Revenue output (thousand tonnes) 893 846 Number of pits 9 16 Average manpower 16,930 22,990 Output per man shift (tonnes) 3.08 2.20 Men and management in the north-east are to be congratulated on this record growth in productivity which reflects a continuing effort by all concerned to reduce costs.