§ 23. Mr. Nealasked the Paymaster-General if, in view of the high stocks and the uncertain state of the market, he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to reduce the output of opencast coal.
§ Mr. MaudlingNo, Sir.
§ Mr. NealHas the Paymaster-General received from a number of local authorities in the Midlands protests about opencast coal mining and expressions of their desire not to have their areas further devastated? What equity is there in continuing opencast coal mining if miners are to be thrown out of work?
§ Mr. MaudlingI have already said in answer to an earlier Question that there is no general redundancy in the industry. We must not be led astray by the temporary substantial supply of small coal to think that this is a situation which will continue indefinitely. With the expansion of industry, for which hon. Members opposite so continuously press, greater demands will undoubtedly be made on our coal supplies and coal stocks.