To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many men were working underground in private licensed mines in 1978–79 and each succeeding year.

The British Coal Corporation's 1988–89 annual report and accounts provides a figure of 1,524 as the number of men employed underground in licensed deep mines at the end of 1988–89. The Department does not have figures for previous years. I have therefore asked the chairman of the British Coal Corporation, which is the licensing authority, to write to the hon. Member.