HC Deb 15 May 1961 vol 640 cc895-6
2. Mr. Neal

asked the Minister of Power what general directions he has given to the fuel and power industries relating to output targets for the current year.

The Minister of Power (Mr. Richard Wood)

None, Sir.

Mr. Neal

How does the Minister expect these industries to plan ahead without having a fixed target underwritten by his Ministry? Has he observed that the Chairman of the National Coal Board is planning a target of around 200 million tons, and that the Conservative Political Centre is advocating a target of 120 million tons?

Mr. Wood

I think that the hon. Gentleman, if he has paid attention, as I know he has, to the recent debates in the House, will be quite well aware of the objections to fixing targets, and will also be aware that in the last debate I gave my view that the Chairman of the National Coal Board was right in planing for a capacity of about 200 million tons a year.