§ 27. Mr. Wainwrightasked the Minister of Power, in view of the fact that it is estimated that the power used in this country in 1965 will be 300 million tons of coal equivalent, what is the estimated tonnage that the coalmining industry is expected to produce for the years 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965.
§ Mr. WainwrightWill the hon. Gentleman make certain that any amount of coal produced for years ahead will not be put into stock? In the event of pressure from hon. Members on his side of the House to import coal, will he remind them that the National Coal Board was responsible for subsidising a difference in the price of imported coal of £3 or £4 a ton several years ago? Will he also remind hon. Members opposite that when this country was producing coal at 30s. a ton cheaper than on the Continent private industry never even said "thank you" to the National Coal Board?
§ Mr. WoodI have no doubt that notice will be taken of what the hon. Gentleman has said, but that goes a little beyond his asking me for an estimate of the tonnage which the coal industry can produce. I was not clear where it was that he wanted this coal put. Was it in stock? If coal produced is not immediately consumed, there is little alternative to stocking it.