§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the most recent results of the National Coal Board's productivity scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EadieAlthough occasional difficulties are bound to occur from time to time in schemes of this sort, I am glad to say that the National Coal Board's incentive scheme appears to have overcome some earlier problems and to have settled down into solid achievement. Thus, in the first 27 weeks of the current financial year, face productivity was 9.8 per cent. better and productivity overall 2.3 per cent. better than the same period last year. Over the past three months, face productivity was 10.8 per cent. up and overall productivity 4.2 per cent. up. However, these figures do not reflect the full improvement, since last year the trend was downwards, and this has now been reversed.