HC Deb 21 June 1966 vol 730 cc271-2
3. Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Minister of Power what information he has regarding the cost to industrial users of coking coal in Scotland and the various regions of England.

Mr. Marsh

I have no information on delivered costs.

Mr. Taylor

Is the Minister aware that Scottish firms in the central belt are paying as much as 30s. a ton more than their competitors in the North of England, and that in the case of one Scottish steelworks it is imposing extra costs of £3 million a year compared with a works in the North of England? That differen- tial more or less removes the advantages of being in a development area.

Mr. Marsh

I do not know from where the hon. Gentleman gets his figures. The question is in terms of delivered costs. I have no power to make the steel companies report their actual delivered costs. All that we have available in the Ministry are pithead prices. There is no power to require steel companies to disclose their delivered costs, and I do not know what they are.

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