Coal Industry (Hansard, 12 March 1987)

§ Mr. Patchett
asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will give details of current manpower levels in British Coal, giving indications of manpower reductions by category of employment in the past 12 months;
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(2) if he will publish details of manpower levels in the Nottinghamshire coalfield area, giving indications of manpower reductions by category of employment in the last 12 months;
(3) if he will give details of manpower levels by coalfield within British Coal for each year since 1979 to the present.

End Financial Year Scottish North East North Yorkshire South Yorkshire North Derbyshire Nottinghamshire South Midlands inc. Kent Western South Wales Total

1978–79 21,018 33,793 31,367 33,477 12,103 33,645 16,156 23,463 27,376 232,398

1979–80 21,047 33,443 31,442 34,233 12,281 34,443 16,848 23,070 26,356 233,163

1980–81 19,761 31,968 30,418 32,898 12,196 33,614 16,444 22,209 25,326 224,834

1981–82 17,402 29,016 29,409 31,277 11,948 32,976 15,719 20,827 24,269 212,843

1982–83 16,479 26,386 29,127 30,066 11,682 32,019 14,627 19,577 22,712 202,675

1983–84 13,078 22,853 26,618 27,302 10,415 29,251 12,905 18,555 20,106 181,083

1984–85 11,263 21,913 25,967 25,947 10,059 27,537 12,345 17,055 19,293 171,379

1985–86 7,708 17,910 20,119 18,028 9,336 26,228 10,582 15,100 13,479 138,490

§ Mr. Patchett
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of all pit closures which have occurred since 1979, giving in each case details of manpower effects and an indication of coalfield areas.

§ Mr. David Hunt
For details of closures until 11 July last I refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Barnsley, West and Penistone (Mr. MacKay) on 12 July 1986. Closures since then have been as follows:

Area Pit

Scottish Comrie

North East Whittle

North Yorkshire Ledston Luck

Kinsley

South Yorkshire Cadeby

North Derbyshire —

Nottinghamshire Hucknall/Babbington

South Midlands Birch Coppice

Western Bersham

Fatal accidents

Area 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 ¹1983–84 ¹1984–85 1985–86 43 weeks ended 24 January 1987

Scottish 7 4 6 4 2 1 1 4 1

North East 8 5 5 5 5 4 0 4 0

North Yorkshire 5 6 9 4 10 6 1 5 3

South Yorkshire 11 3 4 8 6 1 0 3 4

North Derbyshire 4 2 1 1 2 2 0 2 0

Nottinghamshire 4 2 6 1 9 4 3 4 1

South Midlands (including Kent) 5 2 2 2 3 2 4 1 0

Western 16 5 1 7 4 2 2 3 0

South Wales 12 2 5 2 3 0 1 1 2

TOTAL 72 31 39 34 44 22 12 27 11

¹ Affected by industrial action.

§ Mr. Patchett
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of all serious accidents which have occurred in the coal industry since 1979, broken down according to coalfield areas.
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§ Mr. David Hunt
British Coal manpower by area in each year since end financial year 1978–79 is as follows. A breakdown of the manpower reductions by category of employment is not available.

Area Pit

South Wales Cwm

Nantgarw

Kent Tilmanstone

The immediate effects of particular closures on manpower will depend on such factors as numbers transferring to other pits. Details of manpower reductions by area are given in reply to the hon. Member's other question today.

§ Mr. Patchett
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of all fatal accidents which have occurred in the coal industry since 1979, broken down according to coalfield areas.

§ Mr. David Hunt
Fatalities since 1978–79 have been as follows:

§ Mr. David Hunt
Details are as follows:
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Accidents¹ in the Coal Industry

Area 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 ²1983–84 ²1984–85 1985–86 43 weeks ended 24.1.87

Scottish 43 54 69 117 93 65 1 63 46

North East 63 66 85 114 113 99 9 80 100

North Yorkshire 51 46 77 92 100 71 11 100 106

South Yorkshire 65 62 62 95 81 71 9 86 97

North Derbyshire 39 32 54 58 65 51 14 59 40

Nottinghamshire 55 57 73 125 135 146 86 115 145

South Midlands (inc. Kent) 24 28 26 48 49 54 34 45 58

Western 52 48 61 56 80 63 35 65 89

South Wales 88 63 94 121 91 126 8 91 89

TOTAL 480 456 601 826 807 746 213 704 770

¹ Serious reportable accidents reclassed as major injury January 1981.

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurences Regulations 1985 required the reporting of accidents which were not originally included. The figures from 1985–86 are, therefore, calculated on a different basis to earlier years.

² Affected by industrial action.

End Financial Year	Scottish	North East	North Yorkshire	South Yorkshire	North Derbyshire	Nottinghamshire	South Midlands inc. Kent	Western	South Wales	Total
1978–79	21,018	33,793	31,367	33,477	12,103	33,645	16,156	23,463	27,376	232,398
1979–80	21,047	33,443	31,442	34,233	12,281	34,443	16,848	23,070	26,356	233,163
1980–81	19,761	31,968	30,418	32,898	12,196	33,614	16,444	22,209	25,326	224,834
1981–82	17,402	29,016	29,409	31,277	11,948	32,976	15,719	20,827	24,269	212,843
1982–83	16,479	26,386	29,127	30,066	11,682	32,019	14,627	19,577	22,712	202,675
1983–84	13,078	22,853	26,618	27,302	10,415	29,251	12,905	18,555	20,106	181,083
1984–85	11,263	21,913	25,967	25,947	10,059	27,537	12,345	17,055	19,293	171,379
1985–86	7,708	17,910	20,119	18,028	9,336	26,228	10,582	15,100	13,479	138,490

Area	Pit
Scottish	Comrie
North East	Whittle
North Yorkshire	Ledston Luck
	Kinsley
South Yorkshire	Cadeby
North Derbyshire	—
Nottinghamshire	Hucknall/Babbington
South Midlands	Birch Coppice
Western	Bersham

Fatal accidents
Area	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	¹1983–84	¹1984–85	1985–86	43 weeks ended 24 January 1987
Scottish	7	4	6	4	2	1	1	4	1
North East	8	5	5	5	5	4	0	4	0
North Yorkshire	5	6	9	4	10	6	1	5	3
South Yorkshire	11	3	4	8	6	1	0	3	4
North Derbyshire	4	2	1	1	2	2	0	2	0
Nottinghamshire	4	2	6	1	9	4	3	4	1
South Midlands (including Kent)	5	2	2	2	3	2	4	1	0
Western	16	5	1	7	4	2	2	3	0
South Wales	12	2	5	2	3	0	1	1	2
TOTAL	72	31	39	34	44	22	12	27	11
¹ Affected by industrial action.

Accidents¹ in the Coal Industry
Area	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	²1983–84	²1984–85	1985–86	43 weeks ended 24.1.87
Scottish	43	54	69	117	93	65	1	63	46
North East	63	66	85	114	113	99	9	80	100
North Yorkshire	51	46	77	92	100	71	11	100	106
South Yorkshire	65	62	62	95	81	71	9	86	97
North Derbyshire	39	32	54	58	65	51	14	59	40
Nottinghamshire	55	57	73	125	135	146	86	115	145
South Midlands (inc. Kent)	24	28	26	48	49	54	34	45	58
Western	52	48	61	56	80	63	35	65	89
South Wales	88	63	94	121	91	126	8	91	89
TOTAL	480	456	601	826	807	746	213	704	770
¹ Serious reportable accidents reclassed as major injury January 1981.
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurences Regulations 1985 required the reporting of accidents which were not originally included. The figures from 1985–86 are, therefore, calculated on a different basis to earlier years.
² Affected by industrial action.