HC Deb 27 March 1990 vol 170 c122W
Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy why the upper limit on numbers of men employed in non-British Coal deep mines is 150.

Mr. Baldry

The new 150 manpower limit on men who may be employed to work underground in licensed deep mines will enable greater investment to be made in modern mining equipment and techniques, and should lead to improved productivity and safety. The new limit is well below the manpower levels of British Coal's smallest pits and has been carefully chosen to fill a gap in the exploitation and development of reserves of coal, particularly coals in short supply, that can be economically and safely worked by private mines on this new scale.