HL Deb 15 April 1947 vol 146 cc1014-5

2.36 p.m.

Viscount MAUGHAM

My Lords, I beg to ask the question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government, if they are in a position to give any information as to whether any and what progress is being made by the National Coal Board in regard to the urgent recommendations contained in the Report of the Technical Advisory Committee (the Reid Report of March, 1945, Cmd. 6610) with a view to substantial increases in the production of coal?]

Lord CHORLEY

My Lords, I am unable to give the noble and learned Viscount the details for which he asks, but he will doubtless be aware that Sir Charles Reid is a member of the National Coal Board and I have no doubt that the Board are energetically pursuing the recommendations in the Reid Report. Many of its recommendations, however, deal with long-term measures of technical reorganization with cannot be expected to bear immediate fruit. In addition to pushing ahead with long-term plans, the House may be assured that the Board are doing everything within their power, with full assistance from His Majesty's Government in such matters as priorities for machinery and equipment, to increase production in the immediate future.

Viscount MAUGHAM

I thank the noble Lord for the answer he has given to the question. May I ask now whether it will be possible to present reports at three-monthly or other reasonable intervals explaining what is being done to carry out the very important recommendations of the Reid Report?

Lord CHORLEY

My Lords, I understand the proposal is that the National Coal Board shall make to Parliament an annual report, in which, no doubt, full details will be given of the plans which are being prepared for the implementation of the Reid Report.

The Marquess of LONDONDERRY

Can the noble Lord tell us whether those figures which are usually published at the end of every quarter will be published by the National Coal Board? There are some due now.

LORD CHORLEY

I shall be glad to have inquiries made and to send to the noble Marquess the information which I am able to obtain.