§ 26. Mr. Warbeyasked the Minister of Power whether, in view of his revised forecast that the target of 300 million tons of coal equivalent for energy consumption will not be achieved until the late sixties, what alteration to the revised plan for coal is necessary as regards the contribution required from the coal industry in 1965.
§ Mr. WarbeyI apologise for the syntax of the Question.
§ Mr. WoodI did not notice that there was anything wrong with it.
As I told the hon. Member for Sedge-field (Mr. Slater) on 5th December, there are no changes in the estimates of total inland energy requirements which would justify the Board in aiming at a mining capacity of less than 200 million tons in 1965.
§ Mr. WarbeyIs the Minister aware that since the original forecast was made the rate of general economic progress of the country has been much slower than was expected and most economists now expect a total energy demand in 1965 of 280 million tons, of which something like 100 million tons may be accounted for from oil and other sources? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that leaves far too little for coal? What assurance can he give the coal industry in view of these figures, particularly taking into account the suggestion made in an earlier question by one of my hon. Friends?
§ Mr. WoodIt is difficult to know what basis to take to arrive at the likely energy requirements in 1965. If the last two or three years are taken as a basis, the energy requirement in 1965 will be considerably below 300 million tons. If, on the other hand, this last year is taken as a basis they will be about 350 million tons. Therefore, I think it would be wrong to be too certain, or to aim to be too certain, when 300 million tons is going to be reached. I suggest that there is not any basis for thinking that the mining capacity necessary in 1965 will be substantially different from the estimate in the revised plan, which was a mining capacity of 200 million tons.