Coal Miners (Hansard, 15 January 1974)

§ Mr. Leadbitter
asked the Minister for Energy how many miners left the coal industry in 1971, 1972 and 1973, respectively ; and if he will break down the figures between those affected by pit closures and termination of employment.

§ Mr. Patrick Jenkin
The figures are as follows:

Gross Manpower Wastage from NCB Mines

1971 1972 1973^*

Voluntary 15,240 9,673 21,400

Redundants 4,182 6,817 7,300

Other Involuntary 12,887 9,623 9,200

Total 32,309 26,113 37,900

^*Partly estimated.

Estimated Manpower affected by Colliery Closures

1971 1972 1973

Number affected 2,200 3,000 6,900

of whom made redundant 1,300 1,300 2,900

NCB manpower statistics are published in the annual reports and accounts of the NCB and in the United Kingdom Digest of Energy Statistics. Copies are held in the Library of the House.

§ Mr. Mudd
asked the Minister for Energy if he will give the totals, respectively, of coal miners killed and severely injured in the years 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973 both as numbers and as 59W annual percentages of the industrial workforce.

§ Mr. Patrick Jenkin
The figures are as follows:

COAL MINES

Year Deaths As percentage of men on colliery books^* Serious injuries As percentage of men on colliery books^*

1970 91 .031 641 0.22

1971 72 .025 641 0.22

1972† 64 .023 519 0.19

1973‡§ 77 .031 542 0.22

^* Excludes clerks and salaried persons at the mines.

† The figures are affected by the industrial dispute which closed NCB mines between 10th January and 28th February 1972.

‡ Provisional figures for the 50 weeks to 15th December 1973.

§ Includes the three serious accidents at Lofthouse, Seafield and Markham Collieries.

COAL AND OIL PRODUCTION AND STOCKS 1973/74 (1972/73 in brackets)

Week Ending

29th September 1973 8th December 1973 15th December 1973 22nd December 1973 29th December 1973 5th January 1974

Coal

Production (M. tons) (b) … 2.6 1.9 1.9 1.8 0.4 0.8

… (2.8) (3.0) (3.0) (2.8) (0.9) (1.9)

Stocks:

Undistributed (NCB) (M. tons) (c) … 13.3 11.5 11.3 10.9 10.8 10.7

… (9.7) (10.9) (11.0) (10.9) (10.8) (10.7)

Power Stations (M. tons) (d) … 20.3 16.2 15.5 151 14.5 13.9

… (16.6) (16.9) (16.9) (16.8) (16.2) (15.7)

Oil Stocks

Held by Oil Companies (M. tons) (e) … 23.1 19.9 19.2 18.5 18.9 190

(Days' supply) (e) … 76.0 60.0 57.0 55.0 56.0 56.0

Power Stations (M. tons) (f) … 0.6 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.7

… (0.5) (0.6) (0.6) (0.6) (0.5) (0.5)

Electricity

Estimated Savings (percentage) (g) — — 11 17 20 21

(a) M. tons = million tons.

Coal

(b) In a normal week, unaffected by holidays or industrial disputes, some 2.7M. tons might be produced.

(c) At the latest date only about 3.8M. tons is suitable for use in power stations, and of this total nearly 2M. tons can be used only in the South Wales area.

(d) Minimum critical level is estimated to be about 7M. tons.

Oil

(e) Total United Kingdom oil stocks at 5th January 1974 amounted to 19.0M. tons or 56 days" supply at the normal level of consumption at this time of year. These are held as crude and process oil at the refineries and as products at various points in the distribution system. Certain minimum stock levels must be maintained if the refining and distribution system is to operate effectively. At the 45 day level (about 15M. tons) local shortages would begin to appear and below this level would become increasingly severe. The most difficult situation is likely to be in industrial oils, expecially fuel oil.

(f) Oil burning stations only.

Electricity

(g) Savings are based on a comparison with estimated demand in the absence of restrictions. Weekly data on oil company stocks were not collected a year ago but only at monthly intervals. At the end of September, November and December 1972 these stocks were 22.6, 20.8 and 20.2 million tons representing 77, 67 and 63 days' supply.

Latest estimates of deliveries to power stations (Receipts) and use of fuels (consumption) are given below.

Gross Manpower Wastage from NCB Mines
	1971	1972	1973^*
Voluntary	15,240	9,673	21,400
Redundants	4,182	6,817	7,300
Other Involuntary	12,887	9,623	9,200
Total	32,309	26,113	37,900
^*Partly estimated.

Estimated Manpower affected by Colliery Closures
	1971	1972	1973
Number affected	2,200	3,000	6,900
of whom made redundant	1,300	1,300	2,900

COAL MINES
Year	Deaths	As percentage of men on colliery books^*	Serious injuries	As percentage of men on colliery books^*
1970	91	.031	641	0.22
1971	72	.025	641	0.22
1972†	64	.023	519	0.19
1973‡§	77	.031	542	0.22
^* Excludes clerks and salaried persons at the mines.
† The figures are affected by the industrial dispute which closed NCB mines between 10th January and 28th February 1972.
‡ Provisional figures for the 50 weeks to 15th December 1973.
§ Includes the three serious accidents at Lofthouse, Seafield and Markham Collieries.

COAL AND OIL PRODUCTION AND STOCKS 1973/74 (1972/73 in brackets)
	Week Ending
		29th September 1973	8th December 1973	15th December 1973	22nd December 1973	29th December 1973	5th January 1974
Coal
Production (M. tons) (b)	…	2.6	1.9	1.9	1.8	0.4	0.8
	…	(2.8)	(3.0)	(3.0)	(2.8)	(0.9)	(1.9)
Stocks:
Undistributed (NCB) (M. tons) (c)	…	13.3	11.5	11.3	10.9	10.8	10.7
	…	(9.7)	(10.9)	(11.0)	(10.9)	(10.8)	(10.7)
Power Stations (M. tons) (d)	…	20.3	16.2	15.5	151	14.5	13.9
	…	(16.6)	(16.9)	(16.9)	(16.8)	(16.2)	(15.7)
Oil Stocks
Held by Oil Companies (M. tons) (e)	…	23.1	19.9	19.2	18.5	18.9	190
(Days' supply) (e)	…	76.0	60.0	57.0	55.0	56.0	56.0
Power Stations (M. tons) (f)	…	0.6	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7
	…	(0.5)	(0.6)	(0.6)	(0.6)	(0.5)	(0.5)
Electricity
Estimated Savings (percentage) (g)	—	—	11	17	20	21
(a) M. tons = million tons.
Coal
(b) In a normal week, unaffected by holidays or industrial disputes, some 2.7M. tons might be produced.
(c) At the latest date only about 3.8M. tons is suitable for use in power stations, and of this total nearly 2M. tons can be used only in the South Wales area.
(d) Minimum critical level is estimated to be about 7M. tons.
Oil
(e) Total United Kingdom oil stocks at 5th January 1974 amounted to 19.0M. tons or 56 days" supply at the normal level of consumption at this time of year. These are held as crude and process oil at the refineries and as products at various points in the distribution system. Certain minimum stock levels must be maintained if the refining and distribution system is to operate effectively. At the 45 day level (about 15M. tons) local shortages would begin to appear and below this level would become increasingly severe. The most difficult situation is likely to be in industrial oils, expecially fuel oil.
(f) Oil burning stations only.
Electricity
(g) Savings are based on a comparison with estimated demand in the absence of restrictions. Weekly data on oil company stocks were not collected a year ago but only at monthly intervals. At the end of September, November and December 1972 these stocks were 22.6, 20.8 and 20.2 million tons representing 77, 67 and 63 days' supply.
Latest estimates of deliveries to power stations (Receipts) and use of fuels (consumption) are given below.