§ 42. Mr. Nealasked the Paymaster-General if, in view of the need to reassess the coal requirements of the country, he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board to estimate the amount of compensation necessary to terminate all contracts for opencast coal mining.
§ Mr. MaudlingNo, Sir.
§ Mr. NealDo we understand from that reply that the Paymaster-General is not in favour of terminating opencast mining contracts? How long is he going to continue to get this inferior coal that he cannot sell? If he will take the trouble 28 to consult miners, the various Coal Board divisions, farmers, local authorities and coal merchants, he will discover that opencast coal has no friend outside Hobart House and Millbank.
§ Mr. MaudlingOpencast coal is an extremely valuable national asset. It has already been announced that the opencast mining programme is being substantially run down over the next few years.