Production and Supplies (Hansard, 17 December 1956)

§ 9. Mr. Nabarro
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make a statement concerning coal production and supplies for industrial and domestic purposes, having regard to the estimated increase of 2 million tons of coal this winter arising from the oil position; and what additional purchases of United States coal have now been authorised.

§ 19. Mr. Palmer
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to avoid difficulty to industry and trade this winter because of fuel shortage resulting from the estimated increased national demand for coal of 2 million tons to take the place of imported oil.

§ Mr. Aubrey Jones
I would refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the reply that I gave in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) on 3rd December last.

§ Mr. Nabarro
When my right hon. Friend gave that answer, he appeared to have quite inadequate regard to the great additional burden which is being put on the coal industry in certain circumstances through inadequate supplies of oil. As coal production continues to show no increase, and in some regards is actually decreasing, cannot my right hon. Friend answer my Question and give some impressions as to the future trend of production in the industry?

§ Mr. Jones
With regard to the distribution of oil to the coal industry, the special position of the coal industry will certainly be taken into account. As for the larger matter raised by my hon. Friend, granted the level of imports arranged for the winter, and granted the level of stocks, I do not think that increased imports should be required.

§ Mr. Palmer
Is the right hon. Gentleman confident that he can deal with the situation which might conceivably arise if we had very severe weather in January or February, and, in particular, are power station stocks adequate?

§ Mr. Jones
The situation will, of course, be kept constantly under review, but the level of stocks is extremely favourable.

§ 39. Mr. Maude
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to take urgent action to secure improved production of deep-mined coal in Britain in view of the shortage of oil.

§ Mr. Aubrey Jones
I do not think that a general direction would appropriately serve the end which my hon. Friend has in mind. To improve coal output two things, apart from manpower, are necessary; an accelerated rate of investment and improved labour relations. On the first, investment, there has been a quickening of the rate both of mechanisation and of reconstruction. On the second, labour relations, the House will have noted that the miners' leaders have recently joined the Board in publicly 907 declaring that they will take all possible measures over the next six months to secure a better spirit in the industry.

§ Mr. Maude
When does my right hon. Friend expect that some results will be apparent from this? He will be aware that, taking into account the stoppages last year, the comparative production this year has been most unsatisfactory.

§ Mr. Jones
In the case of individual pits, where reconstruction has been effected, the results are already apparent. As for the output at large, it is perfectly true that there was a bad deterioration in the months of September and October, due to more disputes and less Saturday working. I trust that this new declaration on the part of the National Union of Mineworkers will help to put this aspect right.

§ Mr. Chetwynd
Does the Minister think that it would be helpful if his hon. and right hon. Friends of the Suez Group volunteered to spend their Christmas Recess doing this job?

§ Dame Irene Ward
Does my right hon. Friend agree that nobody in his sane senses could think that the National Coal Board needs a directive? I do not necessarily stand up for the National Coal Board, but surely it is seized with the need for increased coal production? Therefore, is it not a good thing occasionally to give it a little protection?

§ Mr. Jones
I have been at pains to impress the National Coal Board with the need for an urgent increase in output, and I am satisfied that it is fully seized of this need.

§ 40. Mr. Maude
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to secure additional supplies of coal from sterling area countries overseas; how much of this coal he expects can be made available to this country; and when.

§ 42. Mr. P. Williams
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what conclusions have been reached about the development of coal deposits in Africa; and what further action he proposes.

§ Mr. Aubrey Jones
I know of no supplies of coal at present available which could be economically imported into the United Kingdom from sterling area sources. As regards the possibility of developing Commonwealth African 908 coal reserves, the Government have not yet completed their consideration of the issues involved.

§ Mr. Maude
Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is about six months since he first told us that this matter was being urgently studied in his Department? Without wishing to put pressure on his advisers to show an unbecoming degree of keenness in this matter, may we have action soon?

§ Mr. Jones
Less than six months ago I endeavoured to make it clear that this matter concerns more Departments than my own. In fact, it is an interdepartmental question. What is at issue here is investment, which really cannot be expected to yield its fruits in under about 10 years. In those circumstances, to spend less than six months in considering the matter is not, I think, an exaggerated length of time.

§ Mr. P. Williams
While accepting that this is a matter which concerns more than one Department, may I suggest that surely it is time for a conference of all the Departments concerned, which should be held immediately, to decide within the next six months what action is to be taken, as opposed to what conferences are to be held?

§ Mr. Jones
Such conferences are constantly taking place.