HC Deb 13 May 1983 vol 42 c547W
Mr. Home Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were employed in the coal mining industry in Scotland in 1979; and how many are now employed in that industry.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

The most relevant available estimates are from the census of employment. The estimated numbers of employees in employment in the coal mining industry in June 1978 and September 1981 were 26,400 and 22,000 respectively.