§ Mr. Harperasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total workforce employed in the coal mining industry at the latest available date and the total in each of the age groups, 15 to 25 years, 25 to 35 years, 35 to 45 years, 45 to 55 years, and 55 to 65 years.
§ Mr. RidleyThe total number of mineworkers employed at National Coal Board mines at 1st January, 1972, was 278,450. The latest available information concerning age distribution of the workforce is given in Table 15 (Age Distribution of Wage-Earners on Colliery Books at 26th December, 1970) of Volume II of the Board's report for 1970–71.