HC Deb 04 March 1948 vol 448 cc506-7
25. Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the deepest amount of overburden or top soil that is being removed in open-cast coal working; and what is the maximum cost of removing this before the coal is extracted.

Mr. Gaitskell

In special cases, where the thickness of the seam to be extracted appears to justify such a course, as much as 6o yards of overburden may be removed, of which up to 1 foot 6 inches may be handled separately as top soil. The maximum cost of removal and replacement of overburden is about 35. 6d. a cubic yard.

Mr. Osborne

Might I ask the Minister if it is not true that overburden costs some £8 a ton to get out and about the same to replace and, therefore, that the extreme cost of this coal is about £20 a ton? Could he confirm that?

Mr. Gaitskell

The hon. Member is quite in error. The cost of this coal is approximately the same as the price obtained for it.