§ Mr. Leighasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give, in a similar form to that used in his answer of 6 July 1984 to the hon. Member for Billericay (Mr. Proctor) the income and expenditure of the National Coal Board for 1983–84, indicating the loss and his Departments' level of subsidy.
§ Mr. David HuntIn 1983–84 the income of the National Coal Board was £5,028 million (including adjustments for taxation, extraordinary items and exchange losses). Of this, social grants were £270 million. Expenditure in the year including interest was £5,903 million. Deficit grant was £875 million.
These figures, which are taken from the NCB report and accounts, are not directly comparable with those given in the answer of 6 July 1984, due to changes in definition. Nor do they cover the full extent of Exchequer payments in support of the coal industry, some of which do not pass through the books of the National Coal Board.