§ 10. Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister of Power if he will discuss with the Chairman of the National Coal Board the desirability of ending coal price differentials as now operated against Scotland.
§ Mr. ErrollI am always ready to discuss with the Chairman matters of this kind on which he consults me.
§ Mr. LawsonWill the Minister bear in mind that there is a monopoly in coal supplies and that Scottish industry is under heavy pressure to obtain its coal from abroad? As Scottish industry has this handicap, will he at least ensure that it is able to buy industrial coal as cheaply as is the case with industry south of the Border?
§ Mr. ErrollI appreciate the importance of this matter to Scottish industry, but the rise in industrial costs resulting from the price increase in Scotland has been put at only about half per cent, on average.
§ Mr. WillisIn view of the improvement in production in the Scottish coal industry, will the right hon. Gentleman himself take the initiative and have a talk with the chairman of the Scottish division about this?
§ Mr. ErrollI have regular talks with the Chairman of the Board. Proposals for price changes are a matter for the Board in the first place, but the House should remember that in 1962 the Scottish division incurred a loss of no less than £5.4 million before charging interest.
§ Mr. LawsonWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this loss largely stems from mistaken policies pursued by the Board in Scotland?
§ Mr. ErrollThat is a matter of opinion.