§ Major HAYWARDasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Hardross Collieries, Limited, to stop all new expenditure on the development of their collieries, and in particular to refrain from reopening the Castle Eden Colliery; whether he is aware that the work so abandoned would have involved an expenditure of £1,500,000, given employment to 2,500 additional workers, and would have increased the output of coal by 700,000 tons per annum; whether the company's decision is due to uncertainty as to the Government's policy regarding coal; whether similar decisions are being taken by other collieries in other parts of the country; and whether, in these circumstances, he will make a clear statement of Government policy with regard to the coal mines before the Recess?
§ Sir AUCKLAND GEDDESI have been asked to reply. I am aware of the decision of the Horden Collieries, Limited; which is presumably the Colliery Company that my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind, and I have been informed of the company's position and of their reasons for this decision as stated in Parts 2 and 3 of the question. With regard to the last part of the question I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer just given to the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich.