§ 20. Sir John Mellorasked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he refused to permit a Warwickshire colliery to give away for use in brick making 30,000 tons of washery slurry, now occupying agricultural land, unless 15s. per ton was paid to the Coal Charges Fund; and whether, in order to encourage useful disposal, he will exempt slurry from the levy.
§ Mr. ShinwellAll disposals of fuel for purposes of combustion have to bear coal charge. If an undertaking is unable to 1851 dispose of any of its products as fuel, and wishes to do so for some purpose other than combustion, the Ministry is prepared to consider the question of exemption from coal charge, provided the facts are laid before them prior to the sale. The Warwickshire Coal Company recently asked the Ministry to exempt its slurry from coal charge on the grounds that its selling value could not support the charge. The Ministry replied setting out the position as above, and invited presentation of the facts if any of the products could not be sold as fuel, but only as rubbish at a price which would not cover coal charge. So far, no request for exemption from coal charge under the conditions prescribed has been received.
§ Sir J. MellorDoes not this case illustrate the urgent necessity for amending the Coal Charges Order, so as to get rid of the flat rate levy?
§ Mr. ShinwellNo, Sir, I should not think so. Obviously, one could not apply the flat rate principle to coal charges.
§ Mr. ShinwellSlurry, when coal was plentiful, was waste. Now it is used——
§ Mr. StokesFor coal.