§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the offences and, where relevant, the Acts, under which north Staffordshire miners were charged following the national coal dispute.
§ Mr. Giles ShawInformation in the form requested is not available. In Staffordshire as a whole 280 people were charged with a total of 401 offences during and in connection with the NUM dispute. Two hundred and seventy-two of those charged gave their occupation as miner, but information about places of work is not readily available. Of the 401 charges, 159 related to alleged offences under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1964, 80 to alleged offences of obstructing a police officer under section 51 of the Police Act 1964, and 72 to alleged offences under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. The remaining 90 charges relate to a wide range of offences extending from riot (nine charges) to offences under the House to House Collections Act.