§ 13. Mr. Palmerasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what evidence he obtained from the National Coal Board that there is no subsidy on the part of the domestic consumer in favour of the industrial consumer before authorising the recent increase in domestic coal prices.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesThere have been no recent increases in house coal prices, but the hon. Member may have in mind some estimates which I quoted in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) on 26th March to show what would be the effect, in certain towns, of a railway freight increase of 5 per cent. Increases arising from this cause do not affect the revenue of the National Coal Board, and apply uniformly to both domestic and industrial consumers.
§ Mr. PalmerIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great public interest and concern about the prices paid by industrial users of coal? Do not the House and the country deserve from him a full statement as to the facts?
§ Mr. JonesIf the hon. Gentleman will put an appropriate Question on the Order Paper, I shall be only too delighted to spread enlightenment in dark places, but the hon. Member's Question is not particularly appropriate in that connection. I can only repeat that there is no discrimination between industrial and domestic consumers.