§ 16. Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will assess the effect of the present miners' strike on the operational effectiveness of the pits affected.
§ 19. Mr. Kenneth Carlisleasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many pits have suffered physical damage due to the cessation of mining during the current dispute; and in how many cases such damage has reduced the productive capacity of the pit.
§ Mr. Giles ShawIt is deplorable that the prolongation of this dispute by the NUM should be putting at risk the very pits the union's leaders claim to be fighting to preserve. The National Coal Board is increasingly concerned at the condition of all those collieries that are not working; some 55 pits are in a deteriorating condition causing concern and coal faces at four pits have been abandoned, involving the loss of expensive equipment.