MEDIA RELEASE
CA/MR 2004/08
21 July 2004

COAL AUTHORITY PUBLISHES ANNUAL REPORT
AND ACCOUNTS FOR 2003-2004

The Coal Authority has today published its ninth  Annual Report and Accounts , covering the period to 31 March 2004. Highlights of the report are:-

• 34 new applications for licences and agreements to enter coal in the ownership of the Authority, a 24% reduction on last year. (See page 17)
• Assessment of underground and surface coal tonnage licensed by the Authority. (See page 19)
• 591,944 mining reports for property transactions and related matters produced by the Authority's award winning computerised information system (an increase of 9% on the previous year). (See page 23)
• An internet and e-mail service for the ordering and delivery of coal mining reports ( www.coalminingreports.co.uk ). A fully electronic link to the National Land Information Service (NLIS) provides customers with an additional channel from which to order and receive mining reports. (See page 23)
• 910 subsidence claims resolved. Claims awaiting settlement reduced by 243 to 490, a reduction of 33% over the year. (See page 26)
• Property disposals generating proceeds of £19.2 million. (See page 28)
• Work was completed at 26 sites to treat or prevent polluting minewater discharges by the end of March 2004. Construction of 8 further schemes commenced during the year. (See page 29)
• 140 employees in post. Turnover for the year of £34.9 million.

END

Note for Editors

The Coal Authority, located at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was established under the Coal Industry Act 1994, with responsibility for four principal functions: Licensing coal-mining operations; subsidence damage claims which are not the responsibility of the privatised successor companies or other licensed operators; dealing with property and historic liabilities such as old shafts and minewater pumping; and providing public access to information on coal-mining operations past and present.

MEDIA CONTACT:

John Delaney
Corporate Affairs Manager
Tel: 01623 427162
Fax: 01623 427316
Email: johndelaney@coal.gov.uk