6. Mr. H. Wilsonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what estimate he made of the total cost of operating the opencast coal site on the ground of the Prescot Cricket Club, Lancashire, before approving the order for requisitioning the site; and what estimate he made of the tonnage of coal to be extracted.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksThe cost of operating opencast coal sites is a matter for the National Coal Board. The estimated extraction in this case was 150,000 tons.
Mr. WilsonNow that all this operation has concluded, can the hon. Gentleman say whether his estimate has been realised? In the light of the results achieved in the last year or two, would he say whether they justified all the disturbance that was caused?
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksThe answer to the latter part of the supplementary question is, "Yes." In regard to the estimate, the right hon. Gentleman will recall that the original estimate was substantially reduced owing to the reduction in the size of the site for the preservation of the bowling green, tennis courts and pavilion.
802 The amount actually extracted is within reasonable distance of the adjusted anticipated amount.