§ 16. Mr. Nabarroasked the Paymaster-General how much imported coal was sold on the British market in the twelve months ended 30th June, 1957; what losses were incurred on this resale, both aggregate and average per ton; and what proportion of the permitted increase of 6s. 6d. per ton will be used in defraying such losses.
§ Mr. Maudling3.7 million tons of coal were sold at a loss of £14 million, or 75s. per ton in the twelve months ended 30th June. The permitted increase of 6s. 6d. per ton for the selling price of coal was to provide for increased costs of home production.
§ Mr. NabarroI was hoping to ask another supplementary on the previous Question. Turning to this Question, how long is this national scandal of coal imports to be allowed to continue? Has my right hon. Friend and the Minister of Power any policy for eliminating coal imports in the future, thus relieving the heavy burden which is being placed upon the consumer by the losses incurred on resale of imported coal?
§ Mr. MaudlingMy hon. Friend uses strong language, and I do not know whether it contributes anything to a solution of what is a difficult and technical problem. The proportion of large coal being mined is falling with modern mining methods. The National Coal Board hopes to mitigate that decline with more modern machinery, which it is now trying to introduce, but if the proportion of large coal, which is the type the domestic market requires, continues to fall, and if people still want the same amount of large coal, it will be impossible to eliminate imports. This problem is being and must be tackled from two points of view—first of all, to try to stop the decline in the proportion of large coal 748 and, secondly, to try to increase the use of smaller coals, an effort to which my hon. Friend has himself contributed a very great deal.
§ Mr. JayDoes not the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) talk a great deal of nonsense? How can the National Coal Board either carry out its modernisation projects or get rid of imports as long as it is forced to charge a price far below the economic level?
§ Mr. MaudlingI do not always agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro), nor do I often agree with the right hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay), but if, as it appears, the right hon. Gentleman is advocating a deliberate policy of dearer coal, I certainly do not agree with him.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Nabarro.
§ Mr. NabarroI wanted to say that that was the best thing my right hon. Friend has said today. Question No. 17.