HC Deb 12 March 1987 vol 112 cc282-5W
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;

(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.

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:

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.