§ 3. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Power whether he will state the estimate he has made of 1961 production and demand for coal; what diminution of unsold stocks is anticipated in that year; what is the current value of these stocks and the tonnage of undistributed coal and coke held by the National Coal Board; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WoodIn 1961 the level of production may fall slightly. With demand at much the same level as in 1960, the Board expects to reduce its stocks by slightly more than this year. On 19th November the Board held 31.8 million tons of coal and 5.2 million tons of coke, valued at about £125 million.
§ Mr. NabarroWould my right hon. Friend say, in regard to his assessment of the consumption of coal during 1961, what level of employment or underemployment in industry generally he has presupposed? For example, has he based his figures on a continuance of pretty widespread short-term working in such industries as the motor industry?
§ Mr. WoodI have been extremely cautious in my estimate, as my hon. Friend realises. I said that demand will be about the same as this year. I do not think that it will increase very much and I do not think that it will be reduced very much. I should not like to go further than that.
§ 19. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Power how much stocked coal has been sold since 1st September, 1960.
§ Mr. GeorgeDuring the eleven weeks ended 19th November, undistributed stocks fell by 2.9 million tons.
§ Mr. BoydenIn view of the improvement in the lifting of stocks, can the Parliamentary Secretary be quite sure that there has been no closure of pits with good reserves simply because they are uneconomic temporarily?
§ Mr. GeorgeThe decision as to which mines are to be closed in any given year is always taken in the previous year. It is highly unlikely, therefore, that the fact that we lifted a certain amount from stock during these months will have had any effect on such decisions.