HC Deb 16 April 1946 vol 421 cc392-3W
Mr. Peter Freeman

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much public money has been spent in each year since 1942 on new machinery for coal cutting, conveying, haulage and other purposes below ground in mines; and the total sums spent in each division.

Mr. Shinwell:

The total value of mining machinery of British manufacture, the cost of which was borne by public funds, supplied to colliery undertakings for mechanisation, etc., schemes during the four financial years ended 31st March, 1946, amounted to £1,659,860.

Year ended Cutting Conveying. Power Loading Total
£ £ £ £
31.3.43 … … … 21,000 89,000 6,000 116,000
31.3.44 … … … 75,000 322,000 20,000 417,000
31.3.45 … … … 71,000 303,000 20,000 394,000
31.3.46 … … … 132,000 564,000 37,000 733,000
TOTAL … 299,000 1,278,000 83,000 1,660,000

In addition mining machinery of American manufacture to the estimated value of £861,000 was also delivered to colliery undertakings during the four years in question. The large majority

Year ended Cutting. Conveying. Power Loading. Total.
£ £ £ £
31.3.43 … … … 25,000 43,000 17,000 85,000
31.3.44 … … … 100,000 167,000 67,000 334,000
31.3.45 … … … 110,000 184,000 74,000 368,000
31.3.46 … … … 22,000 37,000 15,000 74,000
TOTAL … 257,000 431,000 173,000 861,000

Expenditure on haulage is only a negligible proportion of the total, and it is not possible to separate this item. The above does not, of course, represent the total expenditure on mechanisation schemes as there are also other mechanisation schemes not sponsored by Ministry of Fuel and Power, the cost of which is not borne on public funds.