§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many persons were employed by the National Coal Board on 1st June, 1970, and on 1st June, 1971, respectively.
§ Mr. Ridley362,250 and 355,270 respectively.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many coal miners have left the coal mining industry since June, 1970; how many pit closures have taken place; and what is the latest figure of unemployed coal miners.
§ Mr. Ridley46,900 mineworkers left the industry between the end of June, 1970 and the end of October, 1971; five collieries closed and a sixth on 6th November. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment that on 11th October, 1971, 19,281 male workers from coal mining were registered as unemployed.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of paying the cost of concessionary coal to miners who, between 55 and 60 years of age, have been made redundant through pit closures.
§ Mr. RidleyRelating the Question to men in this age group benefiting from the Redundant Mineworkers' Payments Scheme, the National Coal Board estimate that the total cost would by now be running at around £250,000 a year. A figure of £500,000 a year might be reached if men made redundant before March, 1968 and after September, 1971 19W were included. If the costs were brought within the scope of the Coal Industry Acts, half the total annual cost would fall to be paid by the Department in 1972–73 and one-third in 1973–74.