HC Deb 11 March 1957 vol 566 cc774-5
13. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Paymaster-General whether he will state the dollar expenditure on United States coal during the year 1956.

Mr. Maudling

About $35 million.

Mr. Nabarro

As this grave drain on our resources in buying American coal has been going on for many years, will my right hon. Friend say what plans he has in hand, both short-term and longterm, to remedy the position? Would it not be helpful if a more purposeful national fuel policy to work towards this desirable end were implemented by his noble Friend and himself?

Mr. Maudling

I should have thought that two very well-known ways of getting away from the importation of coal, which causes a heavy strain on our balance of payments, were an increase in domestic coal production and the development of nuclear sources of energy.

Mr. Nabarro

What about fuel efficiency?