§ 27. Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Minister of Power whether he is aware of the general concern felt at the quality of coal reaching the domestic consumer; and what action he proposes to take to help solve this problem.
§ Mr. John MorrisI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Goole (Mr. George Jeger) on 1st December.
§ Mr. RidsdaleIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in spite of heavy investment in new machinery by the coal industry and in spite of the closing down of uneconomic pits, the industry is making a loss of £40 million a year? Will the Parliamentary Secretary assure the House that he will not raise the price of coal so that old-age pensioners particularly, and others, do not have to pay more for the inefficiencies of nationalisation?
§ Mr. MorrisI do not know from where the hon. Member gets the figure of £40 million a year. I appreciate his concern for the old-age pensioners. I wish that the party opposite had felt equally concerned in the last 13 years. I have no reason to suppose that the quality of coal generally is poor or that the practice of selling lower or mixed quality coals at high-grade prices is becoming widespread. The National Coal Board does everything possible to maintain the quality of coal as it leaves the pits.