HC Deb 08 December 1964 vol 703 cc1297-9
5. Mr. Ridley

asked the Minister of Power what is Her Majesty's Government's policy toward allowing the National Coal Board to manufacture the machinery and equipment it needs; and what proposals he has for implementing this policy.

23. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Minister of Power if he will introduce legislation to require the Central Electricity Generating Board to use their pulverised fuel ash for the manufacture of bricks and building blocks.

35. Mr. Bishop

asked the Minister of Power if, in order to encourage the National Coal Board to manufacture some of the machinery and equipment it needs, he will remove the present restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Frederick Lee

With permission I will answer this Question and Questions Nos. 23 and 35 together.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friends to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Morpeth (Mr. Owen) on the 4th December.

Mr. Ridley

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is grave uncertainty among firms manufacturing equipment for the National Coal Board, not least in the factory which makes mining pit props in my constituency? Will he do nothing to extend the area of the nationalisation? Will he undertake to leave things as they are in this matter?

Mr. Lee

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that, under the Act, the Board has extensive powers to manufacture machinery, equipment, and other goods. Whether these powers are adequate is a matter we shall be considering in the review.

Mr. William Hamilton

Will my right hon. Friend press on with all speed in allowing the National Coal Board to provide in its own workshops as much of its equipment as it possibly can, in particular in development districts like Cowdenbeath where further work for the Board's workshops would be very welcome?

Mr. Lee

The Board's policy is to employ its own men on such work as sinking shafts and driving roadways where it feels that this would be to better advantage than placing the work with private industry. In the review we shall look at the matters raised by my hon. Friend.

Mrs. Short

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Was my right hon. Friend answering my Question No. 23, as he said he would? The Question dealt with the Central Electricity Generating Board and not the National Coal Board.

Mr. Speaker

The right hon. Gentleman said that he would answer Question No. 23. I was observing the hon. Lady's movements with some interest but they did not take place.

Mr. Varley

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is under-used capacity in the National Coal Board's workshops which could well be used for the manufacture of machinery and equipment? Will he advise the Board to institute a searching inquiry to see what surplus capacity there is for this purpose?

Mr. Lee

As I have said, the National Coal Board has powers within the Statute to do certain types of manufacture. I will be discussing these matters with Lord Robens in the near future.

Mrs. Short

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the National Coal Board now produces about 8 per cent. of the country's brick output? Is he further aware that this nationalised brick industry is anxious to make its contribution to the building programme of the new Labour Government and that it is "raring" to go? Will he give the nationalised brick industry—a most profitable part of the National Coal Board—the green light to go ahead and do precisely that?

Mr. Lee

I am very keen, as is my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works, to see a substantial increase in the number of bricks available and I hope that the National Coal Board will look very seriously to see if it can increase its output of bricks.