§ 44. Mr. Nealasked the Paymaster-General what general directions he has given to the Gas Council concerning the continuation of the Lurgi plant at Westfield.
§ Sir I. HorobinNone, Sir
§ Mr. NealWill the Parliamentary Secretary be good enough to explain the economic wisdom of investing £6½ million in a plant which is to take opencast coal from a new site on a 20-year contract when millions of tons of opencast coal are in stock, with the net result that 1,500 miners will be thrown out of work?
§ Sir I. HorobinThis was a peculiarly attractive site, details of which are known to the hon. Member. There is no doubt that it will produce gas at a particularly favourable price. The gas board concerned has no doubt that this will open up markets which otherwise it would not be able to get.