§ 65. Mr. Granville Sharpasked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the selling price of opencast coal does not cover the costs of production and marketing; and what prospects there are of these costs being reduced.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe selling price of opencast coal is related to that of deep-mined coal of similar quality, and not to the costs of its production and marketing. In view of the need to secure the maximum production of opencast coal, it is not possible to limit operations to the least expensive sites. The overall costs for the past year have tended to fall, and it is hoped that this will continue in future, but there are numerous factors which cannot be accurately forecast, and, having in mind the urgent need to raise production, there can be no assurance that this downward trend will continue.