§ 8. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will now make a statement on domestic and house coal prices in view of increased petrol and oil costs for distribution and delivery by lorry.
§ 14 and 15. Dame Irene Wardasked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether he will give an assurance that a reduction in the cost of petrol will be followed by a reduction in the retail price of coal and coke;
(2) on what grounds he authorised an increase in the price of coal and coke having regard to the recent profit made by the National Coal Board and the 905 request made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to industrialists to hold prices steady in spite of the rise in the cost of petrol.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesThe maximum retail price of coal and other solid fuels was raised nationally by 8d. a ton from today to take account of the increased motor fuel costs of distribution. This temporary surcharge does not affect the National Coal Board's pithead prices in any way, and it will be taken off when the price of motor fuel falls again.
§ Dame Irene WardCould my right hon. Friend answer Question No. 15, to which he has given no attention whatever?
§ Dame Irene WardBut that answer is quite unsatisfactory. Will my right hon. Friend answer this? When the Chancellor has asked private industries to try to meet the increased costs within their own organisations, why should not the National Coal Board and the coal merchants do the same in relation to coal and coke costs?
§ Mr. JonesIt should be within the knowledge of my hon. Friend that coal merchants are, for the greater part, private firms. The prices which they charge are controlled by me to within a very narrow margin. Having regard to that narrow margin, when an increase in costs like the present one takes place, I am afraid that I am bound to take it into account in the prices which I fix.