§ 3. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Works what his Department now pays for one ton of coal; and what was the cost to his Department for comparable quality in February, 1939.
§ Mr. Buchan-HepburnMy Department now pays 114s. 9d. a ton in London for an average type of house coal; and I understand, although I cannot give an exact figure, that the price paid in London by my Department for similar coal in 1939 was about 38s. 6d. a ton.
§ Mr. OsborneIs this increase not considerably less than the increase paid for cement about which a protest was made 973 from the Opposition benches last week, and is it not a very big contributory factor to the inflation?
§ Mr. Buchan-HepburnThe answer to the first part of the supplementary question is in the negative. The second part raises a larger, general question.
§ Mr. Anthony GreenwoodWill the right hon. Gentleman make it clear to the House that the Government deprecate this sustained campaign against the nationalised industries and that they welcome the fact that miners are at least paid decent wages and have decent conditions? Can the right hon. Gentleman further say what progress his Department is making in promoting fuel economy by cutting out open fires in Government offices?
§ Mr. Buchan-HepburnAs regards the first part of that supplementary question, the hon. Gentleman has made his statement, which will be read, and I do not think it calls for reply. With regard to the second part, I have answered questions on other occasions about the gradual replacement of open fires by oil burning appliances.