HC Deb 29 July 1947 vol 441 c41W
Mr. Sharp

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many coal cleaning plants, including washeries, have been installed since 1945; how many pits now have such plants; and what is the approximate percentage of the total output of saleable coal which is now cleaned before sale.

Mr. Shinwell

Information is only available to the end of 1946. Between the end of 1945 and the end of 1946, 39 coal cleaning plants, including washeries, were installed. During the same period, 41 plants were dismantled. The total number of plants at the end of 1946 was 542, and during that year 47.4 per cent. of the total output of saleable deep-mined coal was cleaned before sale.