HC Deb 19 March 1951 vol 485 cc2091-2
30. Mr. Ian Winterbottom

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give an estimate of how much additional coal would be needed to raise the consumption of power from two to six units per man-hour worked.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

to increase the total consumption of electricity in manufacturing industry from two to six units per operative hour worked, by the addition of extra supplies from the grid, would require an increase of about 40 million tons a year in the coal consumed.

Mr. Winterbottom

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this is considerably above the output of the coalfields, and will he consider, in collaboration with the Governments concerned, the development of coalfields within the Commonwealth such as those at Blair Atholl, Queensland?

Mr. Noel-Baker

That is proceeding.