§ 59. Mr. Robinsonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many tons of opencast coal were sold during the last 12 months; and what figure was realised for this coal.
§ Mr. RobensThe tonnage sold during the twelve months ended 31st March, 1948, the latest date for which figures are available, was approximately 10,511,000; the average price realised was 395. 7d. per ton.
§ Mr. RobinsonCan the Parliamentary Secretary say whether the opencast coal was sold at a loss, how much of the coal produced during that period remains unsold and what is the reason for it?
§ Mr. RobensIn reply to a question by the hon. Member for South Edinburgh (Sir W. Darling) we indicated that the average cost for that year of the production of this coal was 43s. 2d. a ton. The production for that period was 10,951,000 tons, so a deduction of one figure from the other gives the amount that remains unsold.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanCan the hon. Gentleman say what was the relevant loss in the production of food?
§ Mr. RobensNot without notice.
§ Mr. ShepherdCan the Parliamentary Secretary say if the selling cost includes the cost of transportation?
§ Mr. RobensThe cost includes all that is applicable to deep-mined coal.
§ 61. Mr. Torn Brownasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give the figures of output from opencast coal mining in the North-West Region for the six-monthly periods ended 30th June, 1947, 31st December, 1947, and 30th June, 1948, respectively.
§ Mr. RobensThe output from opencast coal mining in the North Western Region in the three 26 week periods ended 2nd July, 1947, 31st December, 1947, and 30th June, 1948, was 429,141 tons, 352,311 tons and 535,737 tons, respectively.
§ Mr. BrownMay I put two questions to the Parliamentary Secretary? Is he satisfied that the method of working opencast coal in the North-Western Region will 578 enable us to get the most coal at the lowest cost? This second question is: Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that the restoration of the land after the excavation of the coal is satisfactory and is in keeping with commonsense practice?
§ Mr. RobensAnswering the latter part of the supplementary question first, my answer is that reinstatement of the land is done to the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture and the local committee. The answer to the first part of the supplementary question is that methods of getting opencast coal have improved considerably in later years. The big increase in that particular region is Clue to better machinery and, of course, to the better weather that we have experienced.