§ Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to the monthly redundancy figures for each pit in the northern region since March 1985, and as to the (a) total and (b) average cost of redundancy payments over this period.
§ Mr. David HuntRedundancy figures for individual pits and for the north-east area for individual months prior to the current year are not available within the Department. The number of men on colliery books who took redundancy in the north-east area of the National Coal Board during the board's 1985–86 financial year and in each month of the current year was as follows:
Number 1985–86 3,616 April 1986 62 May 1986 292 June 1986 482 Information on redundancy payments under the redundant mineworkers payments scheme is available only on a national basis. During the period April 1985 to June 1986 total lump sum payments under the scheme were some £461 millions in respect of about 40,400 individuals, giving an average payment of some £11,400. In addition continuing weekly payments are normally available under the scheme to beneficiaries aged 50 or over on redundancy, up to a maximum of £109 per week. These benefits are additional to any redundancy lump sums payable by the employer under the terms of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978.