HC Deb 30 January 1998 vol 305 cc411-2W
Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of Trade which Minister is currently responsible for policy in respect of coal contracts. [24405]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 20 January 1998]: Ministerial responsibility for all aspects of energy policy rests with my hon. Friend the Minister for Science, Energy and Industry, reporting to me as necessary.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the number of jobs in the coal industry dependent upon the current contracts with the generators. [24409]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 20 January 1998]: Taking deep-mined and opencast together, around 15,000.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many workers were employed in the coal mining industry in(a) May 1997 and (b) January 1998. [24768]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding answer 22 January 1998]: Employment in UK coal mines, opencast and deep mined taken together, was 17,300 at the end of March 1997. Official figures are not yet available for May 1997 and January 1998.