HC Deb 26 February 1962 vol 654 cc917-8
12. Mr. Mendelson

asked the Minister of Power whether his Department has given approval for the policy of the National Coal Board of starting opencast coal workings on additional sites as evidenced in the recent decision of the North Eastern Region of the National Coal Board to commence opencast working in the area of the Dodworth Urban District Council.

Mr. George

My right hon. Friend told the House of Commons on 24th October last year that the National Coal Board has decided, and the Government have agreed, that it must postpone the rundown of opencast output and for the time being keep it at about its present level.

Mr. Mendelson

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the local inhabitants in the area object most strongly, and that the council, meeting on 16th February, passed a resolution saying that it most strongly objected? Is he further aware that the local N.U.M. branch is equally opposed to the proposal? Will he therefore reconsider the decision to give approval?

Mr. George

My right hon. Friend has not yet received any application for the authorisation of opencast coal working in the area of the Dodworth Urban District Council.

Mr. Warbey

On the question of policy, is not there a big difference between postponing the run-down of opencast production and increasing it by authorising work on additional sites? Is it the Government's policy to increase opencast production?

Mr. George

The hon. Member did not pay close enough attention to my reply. No increase was mentioned. I said that the intention was to keep the output running at about its present level. There are good reasons for doing that. When the decision to run down opencast production was taken there was a coal surplus, stockpiling and redundancy. Last year, when this decision was changed, demand exceeded supply, stocks were falling and the Board was short of men.

Mrs. Slater

But is not the fact that new opencast schemes are being undertaken a contradiction to the Minister's statement last October? This seems not to be lowering opencast production but taking steps to increase it. Is not that the whole point?

Mr. George

No. Coal is being extracted, and therefore, in order to keep output at its present level, new deposits must be opened up. That is what is being done.