§ Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the most recent figures on accidents in the coal industry; and if he will give the equivalent figures for each of the last six years.
§ Mr. David HuntThe number of accidents for the first half (April—September) of each of the last six years is as follows:
Number 1986 6,696 1985 7,599 1984 1,600 1983 8,311 1982 10,793 1981 14,127 Accident statistics are published in British Coal's annual report and accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 required the reporting of accidents which were not originally included and therefore the 1986 figures are calculated on a different basis to earlier years.
§ Mr. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the most recent figures on deaths in the coal industry and the number of men working in the industry; and if he will give the equivalent figures for each of the last six years.
§ Mr. David HuntSo far this year there have been ten fatalities in the coal industry. Comparative figures for the last six years are as follows:
387W
Fatalities1 Manpower2 1986 7 132,210 1985 12 162,961 1984 6 177,312
Fatalities1 Manpower2 1983 11 196,982 1982 24 209,940 1981 20 221,582 1 First half of year—April to September. 2 Average number of men on colliery books. Details of fatality statistics are published in British Coal's annual report and accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.