HC Deb 13 July 1953 vol 517 cc1692-4
6. Mr. Hamilton

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what consultations he has had with the National Coal Board, with a view to selling coal below actual costs of production to retirement pensioners and others with low fixed incomes.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

None, Sir.

Mr. Hamilton

Has any consideration at all been given in the past to this point? Is the Minister aware that fuel costs constitute a very important part of the cost of living of old age pensioners and others on low fixed incomes, and in view of the fact that the National Coal Board is selling large quantities of coal below cost to industries which are, in the main, prosperous, will he not consider this question?

Mr. Lloyd

We have considered it, but under the Act nationalising the coal mines passed by the party opposite the Coal Board is specifically debarred from giving a preference to particular types of consumers.

7. Mr. Hamilton

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much coal was sold in 1952 below costs of production to domestic and industrial consumers, respectively; and how much was sold to each of these consumer categories above costs of production.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

I am advised by the National Coal Board that the information is not available.

Mr. Hamilton

Does the Minister not agree that the Coal Board is, in fact, selling coal below the cost of production to industries, including the steel industry, which is now to be denationalised and, therefore, presumably is to be subsidised by the National Coal Board? If he says that it is contrary to the nationalisation Act to give preference to categories of consumers, how is it that the National Coal Board can, in fact, provide coal below the cost of production to these other industries?

Mr. Lloyd

The National Coal Board has not changed its policy since the Labour Government were in power.

Mr. Hamilton

In view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

16. Mr. Boardman

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the high and rising price of coal, he will set up an inquiry to examine means of reducing the difference between pithead and consumer prices.

17. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the retail price of coal is more than double the pithead price; and what steps he will take to reduce excessive additions to the pithead price.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

The difference between pithead prices and the prices charged to consumers consists of only two parts: transport costs and distributors' margins. With regard to the first, the railways are nationalised, and with regard to the second, the margins have been controlled by Government since the beginning of the war.

Mr. Boardman

Is the Minister aware that in the coming winter many people, including pensioners and the like, will find these high prices extremely difficult, and does he not think that an inquiry would be worth while, apart from the question of traders' margins, into the whole question of the handling of coal, particularly the antiquated methods of handling the coal at the wharves?

Mr. Lloyd

I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman is suggesting an inquiry into the railways?

Mr. Boardman

I am suggesting an inquiry into the whole of the costs between the pithead and the consumers.

Mr. Lloyd

The only other part is the question of the margins. There has been no alteration of policy on this since right hon. Gentlemen opposite were in office.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is the Minister aware that, after the coal has been delivered to London, London coal merchants get £1 15s. 9d. a ton for delivery to the household consumer, which is about six times as much as the miner gets for cutting it from the coal face? Is there any sense or justice in this wide distributors' margin?

Mr. Lloyd

The hon. and gallant Gentleman must remember that from that have to be met the wages of the men who do the work.

Mr. Ellis Smith

While welcoming the suggestion made in the Question, may I ask whether the Minister does not agree that the time has arrived when the nation should accept the responsibility of the consequences of taking the coal from where the miners get it, and will he consult the Chancellor as soon as possible in order that the people living in the areas can be recompensed for what they suffer from mining subsidence?