HC Deb 03 June 1985 vol 80 cc22-3W
7. Mr. Douglas

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the current level of output and employment in the British coalfields.

Mr. Peter Walker

I am encouraged by the levels of production attained since the end of the strike, although damage to coal faces has had a lasting effect. Between the beginning of March and 4 May, over 2,000 miners took voluntary redundancy, reducing the number of men on colliery books to approximately 169,000.

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