§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the policy of the National Coal Board in relation to the Kent coal mines.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, if the Kent coalfield can produce at an acceptable level of cost, the National Coal Board see no reason why total production should not remain at about the current level, as there are markets available for the coal. At present, it is only at Chislet that results are such as to put the future of the pit in jeopardy, and the unions have been informed. There have been difficulties at Tilmanstone in connection with water pollution, but the National Coal Board have recently announced that they are to spend a substantial sum on constructing a pipeline to carry the surplus water to the sea.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Could he say how soon the Coal Board will know when we have an acceptable level of cost?—because there appears to be a great deal of uncertainty regarding the Kent coalfield, and men have been leaving the coalfields.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, the Kent coalfield has lost money every year since nationalisation, and last year it lost £1.7 million, which was its greatest loss. My first Answer made clear that production is continuing, and so far as the four collieries in the Kent coalfield are concerned the National Coal Board have no plans for the closure of Tilmanstone, Betteshanger and Snowdown. The only doubt is with regard to the future of Chislet. No firm decision has yet been taken, but its prospects will be reviewed when the results of the period ending next March are known.