No L 233/28 Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 8. 81 COMMISSION DECISION of 10 july 1981 approving aids from the United Kingdom for the coal-mining industry during the 1980/81 financial year (Only the English text is authentic) (81/649/ECSC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to Commission Decision 528/76/ECSC of 25 February 1976 regarding the Community system of measures taken by the Member States to assist the coal-mining industry (}), Having consulted the Council, Whereas the United Kingdom Government has informed the Commission, pursuant to Article 2 of the above Decision, of the financial measures which it intends to implement directly or indirectly for the benefit of the coal industry during the 1980/81 finan- cial year (?); whereas the following of these measures may be approved pursuant to the Decision : £ million — aid for the recruitment and retention of skilled workers : 42 — aid for stocks: 124 — aid for power station coal : 117 — aid to cover losses on mining : 112-4 Whereas these aids meet the criteria laid down in the Decision for the admissibility of such state assistance ; The aid for attracting and keeping skilled workers is intended to offset in part the National Coal Board's costs arising from rationalization and the transfer of production to their best pits. This results in outgoings on removals, transport, etc. Whereas the United Kingdom Government is to contribute £ 4-2 million towards such costs borne by the NCB in 1980/81; Whereas the purpose and form of the aid show that it meets the criteria set out in Article 8 of the Decision ; (") OJ No L 63, 11. 3. 1976, p. 1. () The 1980/81 financial year runs from the beginning of April 1980 to the end of March 1981. Whereas the £ 12-4 million aid to cover the costs of stocks of coal and coke is based on total producers’ stocks and additional stock held by consumers financed directly or indirectly by the producers, amounting to some 22 million tonnes; whereas, with monthly production of around 10 million tonnes, stocks eligible for aid under Article 9 (2) of the Deci- sion amount to 12 million tonnes; whereas the amount of aid per tonne is accordingly £ 1:0 ; whereas the actual cost of stocks (including depreciation and interest) is substantially higher than the amount of aid ; Whereas the purpose and form of the aid show that it meets the criteria set out in Article 9 of the Decision ; Whereas the £ 11-7 million aid for power station coal is intended to cover the cost of deliveries of power station coal to Scotland. From the information provided by the United Kingdom Government, the amount and purposes of the aid granted can be regarded as being compatible with Article 11 of the Decision ; Whereas the aid given to cover losses on mining (£ 1124 million) will almost completely cover the losses sustained by NCB pits in 1980/81. The aid is given to avoid serious economic and social problems in those coaltields where there are not yet adequate re-employment opportunities and to maintain existing production capacities so as to safeguard energy supplies. The aid is therefore compatible with Article 12 of the Decision; II Whereas, under Article 3 (2) of the Decision, an exami- nation of the compatibility of the abovementioned aids with the proper functioning of the common market must also extend to all other financial measures to support current production in the 1980/81 financial year ;