HC Deb 12 November 1992 vol 213 c971W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much financial support Her Majesty's Government have given to the coal industry in each year since 1979, indicating what proportion in each year was to fund assistance for redundancies; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

Grant aid made available to the coal industry from 1979–80 to 1991–92 inclusive is set out in the table which follows. All payments under the RMPS and about 90 per cent. of restructuring grant payments can be classified as assistance with redundancies.

£ millions
Financial Year RMPS1 Restructuring grant Other grants Total grants
1979–80 15 251 266
1980–81 15 254 269
1981–82 48 575 623
1982–83 80 520 600
1983–84 190 1,145 1,335
1984–85 200 2,414 2,614
1985–86 563 563 1,126
1986–87 610 882 1,492
1987–88 295 435 242 972
1988–89 171 255 42 468
1989–90 128 619 6,624 7,371
1990–91 93 141 0 234
1991–92 69 457 0 526
Total 2,477 1,907 13,512 17,896
1 Redundant mineworkers payments scheme.

In addition to Government financial support, British Coal has been benefiting from the high margins, over and above world market prices, that the electricity generators pay for their coal supplies from the corporation. Under present contracts, which have been operating since April 1990, this assistance amounts to about £1 billion annually.

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