HC Deb 23 July 1962 vol 663 cc926-8
3. Mr. Ginsburg

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the reasons for averring, in his letter of i5th June to the hon. Member for Dewsbury, that the decision to use oil heating at the new Government offices in Dewsbury was the right one.

Mr. Wood

Because a special study of possible fuels and methods of firing showed that, in this particular case, oil firing would be substantially cheaper.

Mr. Ginsburg

Is the Minister aware of the great local concern in this matter? Is he also aware that I have a letter from the chairman of the North-Eastern Division of the National Coal Board stating that it was not consulted and was not asked to supply information on costs? How, then, does the right hon. Gentleman consider that the Ministry of Works' calculations were right and that its decision was right? Would he also confirm that this decision is now irrevocable and that the work has gone too far for the decision to be altered, if, in fact, it was substantiated that coal would be cheaper from the beginning?

Mr. Wood

In answer to the last part of the hon. Gentleman's Question, I think I may give that confirmation. In regard to consultations, there have been a number of these cases, and the Ministry of Works is well aware of the kind of range of choices of fuels in which it must 'Work. It was convinced that in this case it would have been quite impossible to achieve the substantial reduction which would have been necessary in order to make coal as economical as oil.

Mr. W. Hamilton

Is it the principle of the Ministry that it does not ask for tenders from the National Coal Board? Is it left entirely to the Ministry of Works?

Mr. Wood

These Consultations take place between the Ministry of Works and the National Coal Board, and the Ministry of Works is very well aware of the national interest in this matter. In this case, it did not feel that inquiries from the National Coal Board would yield a worth-while result.

Mr. Ginsburg

Would not the Minister agree that, in this case, it was very regrettable that the Ministry did not go to the National Coal Board, because the figures, as at that time, would have shown that coal would have been cheaper?

Mr. Wood

In regard to the figures, I do not think they would have shown that at that time, or that they would show it at the present time.

4. Mr. Ginsburg

asked the Minister of Power if he is satisfied with the liaison between the Government Departments concerned and the National Coal Board when plans for the heating of new Government offices are considered; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Wood

Yes, Sir. Departments concerned are aware that coal is our main indigenous fuel and that it should be used where it can do the job as cheaply as alternative fuels. Their attention has been drawn to the National Coal Board's technical sales service.

Mr. Ginsburg

Will the Minister consider making a further statement about the liaison in this field, so that, at least, the House may know that the sort of incident which happened in my constituency does not happen again?

Mr. Wood

In view of the hon. Gentleman's interest in the matter, I will certainly make inquiries to see that the machinery, which I am convinced works perfectly well, does not make any mistakes in the future.

Mr. T. Fraser

Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to ensure that this information is available to other Government Departments, and that, in fact, the machinery is working well, because there is a widespread suspicion that the machinery is not working well? Is he also aware that the technical officers who are advising on the erection of new buildings and on heating seem to have a very definite bias in favour of other fuels? Will he be quite sure that Government Departments are paying attention to the advantages of using coal?

Mr. Wood

I will certainly examine the matter, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that this is the only complaint that has come to me about this matter.