§ 24. Sir W. Darlingasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what relation the expenditure of his Department on coal-mining services has to coal raised per ton.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksAbout 1d. per ton, Sir.
§ Sir W. DarlingDoes my hon. Friend recognise the public curiosity about the inefficiency of his Department, and that this Question is one of many prompted to try to discover what is the basic reason, to which my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Miss Ward) referred, why coal is so dear? Is it expensive administration? What is the reason?
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksI hope that my answer will reassure my hon. Friend that the costs of my Department do not appreciably add to the cost of coal.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesHow does that 1d. on coal compare with the subsidy handed out to inefficient coalowners before the war?
§ Mr. PopplewellDoes the hon. Gentleman understand that that 1d. would enable the Minister to conduct an inquiry, as requested in the previous Question, into the difference between pithead cost and the price paid by the consumer? Is he aware that his answer that the difference is absorbed in transport charges and retail costs is not nearly sufficient, and that we urge that there is a case for the Minister conducting an inquiry into the difference between pithead costs and consumers' prices? Will he consider increasing this charge, if necessary, to enable him so to do?
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksI do not think that it would be necessary.
§ Sir W. DarlingDoes the question of the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) suggest that we paid too much for the coalmines, and that we should not have taken them over?