§ Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many privately-owned coal mines there are in the United Kingdom; what is the annual average tonnage produced from them, and the average number of employees at such mines; and if he will make a statement on their future.
§ Mr. Ridley195 coal mines licensed by the National Coal Board are in operation; average production in 1970–71 was about 3,600 tons; the average number of employees was about 10. Representations about their members' financial difficulties resulting from the recent strike and the longer term effect of the wages settlement to which they were an unrepresented party have been made by the Federation of Small Mines of Great Britain which has been asked to provide the facts of the situation. When this information is available, the position of the small mines will be considered as a matter of urgency.