§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many miners have taken redundancy pay (a) during the miners strike and (b) since the strike ended; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David HuntDuring the 1984–85 financial year, the year of the miners' strike, approximately 8,000 men left the industry under the redundant mineworkers payments scheme. From the end of that financial year to the end of December 1986 a further 56,000 qualified under the scheme. The reduction in manpower has enabled British Coal to make impressive gains in productivity.
School year Expenditure £ Number of assisted pupils Number of assisted pupils receiving free schools meals Expenditure on travel grants (£) Expenditure on clothing grants (£) 1982–83 2,742 3 Nil 251 54 1983–84 19,784 18 Nil 671 598 1984–85 37,419 27 2 1,385 491 1985–86 55,446 39 2 1,255 380 1986–871 62,779 39 2 2,500 833 1Provisional figures