28. Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Minister of Power what is the average price charged for smokeless fuel for domestic use in Scotland; and what is the average price in England and Wales.
§ Mr. FreesonThere is such variation in the prices as between different smokeless fuels, individual retailers and towns and cities in different parts of the country, mainly reflecting transport costs, that it is not practicable to give accurate averages.
Mr. TaylorAs previous questions and answers have shown that in Scotland we pay 20 per cent. more for gas and £1 a ton more for coal, is the Minister scared to find out this information because of the figures which would be revealed, and why is there not a uniform price for smokeless fuels when there are so many smokeless areas?
§ Mr. FreesonI am not scared of giving information which is available. I hope the hon. Gentleman will accept that on every occasion when he has asked questions of this kind I have sought to be as helpful as possible in providing the information. My original answer stands, that there are too many wide variations in the price of smokeless fuel to give accurate averages.