44. Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what will be the amount of coal saved by cutting summer railway services by 10 per cent. and by reducing miners' allowance of free coal by 10 per cent. over the same period, and substituting a cash allowance.
§ Mr. GaitskellAs regards the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Mr. Beechman) on 20th March. As regards the second part of the Question, a reduction of 10 per cent. in the coal supplied to miners during the summer would represent 8,100 tons per week, of which 3,400 tons would be from free coal and 4,700 tons from coal at reduced prices.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe total for the summer is 250,000 tons, which is about 10,000 tons a week. Therefore, the saving on transport is rather greater than the saving on miners' coal.
§ Mr. R. S. HudsonDoes the hon. Gentleman remember last night's Debate, in which we quoted two entirely contradictory figures given by the Government as to the saving? He now says that 250,000 tons will he saved, but one of his colleagues—I think it was the Minister of Transport—said that the figure would be 120,000 tons. Which is right?
§ Mr. GaitskellThe Minister of Transport's figure is the one I am giving on this occasion.
§ Mr. HudsonBut is it the right figure?
§ Mr. GaitskellYes, Sir.