§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Prime Minister what has been the total direct and indirect subsidy by category to coal mining in the last finanial year; which Departments of State have been responsible for paying these subsidies; and what she anticipates the equivalent levels will be in the current year.
§ The Prime MinisterThe total grant support to the National Coal Board and its subsidiaries, under the Coal Industry Acts, in 1979–80 was £251 million. The amounts of individual social and operating grants are shown in the NCB's annual report and accounts for the year, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The total amount of grants under the Coal Industry Acts available to the board in 1980–81 is shown in the published Estimates, as £253 million. For details I refer my hon. Friend to the published Estimates. The Department of Energy is responsible for paying these grants.
In addition, the Department of Industry was responsible for paying regional development grants of £6.7 million under the Industry Act 1972, to the boards's non-mining subsidiaries in 1979–80. The estimated payment in 1980–81 is around £2.0 million.