§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list year by year since 1973 the contributions that the National Coal Board has received from the European Community budget towards the redundant mineworkers' payment scheme.
§ Mr. David HuntContributions from the European Coal and Steel Community towards the Government's redundant mineworkers payments scheme received each year since 1973–74 have been as follows:
£ million 1973–74 — 1974–75 — 1975–76 2.3 1976–77 2.0 1977–78 3.3 1978–79 2.6 1979–80 4.9 1980–81 1.6 1981–82 3.4 1982–83 7.6 1983–84 11.0
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list year by year since 1979 the number of mineworkers who have taken part in the National Coal Board's redundant mineworkers' payment scheme.
§ Mr. David HuntThe following numbers of mineworkers have left the coal industry under the Government's redundant mineworkers payments scheme in the years 1978–79 to date:
522W
Year 1978–79 3,500 1979–80 1,700 1980–81 3,200 1981–82 10,500 1982–83 8,500 1983–84 20,400
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Energy what specific schemes he intends to initiate to assist mineworkers who wish to accept redundancy payments to start private businesses of their own.
§ Mr. David HuntThe National Coal Board has set up a subsidiary company—NCB (Enterprise) Ltd.—to offer financial assistance, counselling, retraining and help with accommodation for businesses in areas where pit closures take place.
I hope that the company will receive many applications for assistance from men who leave the coal industry by taking advantage of the generous redundancy terms available.