HC Deb 26 March 1974 vol 871 cc300-1

The National Coal Board has already announced an increase in prices of industrial coal from 1st April designed to yield extra revenue of 270 million. There is to be a further price increase on industrial coal in the autumn designed to yield about £100 million. There is also to be an increase in National Coal Board prices to merchants for domestic fuels of about £2.50 to £3 a ton. In order to mitigate the impact on family budgets, this will be deferred until November, although the National Coal Board will not this year be offering a summer discount. These measures are designed to bring the selling price of coal more nearly into line with production costs and to reduce financial support for the National Coal Board to not much more than an estimated 50 million in the coming year.

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