§ 1. Mr. Errollasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will publish figures to show the consumption of oil and petrol per ton of opencast coal excavated.
§ Mr. GaitskellI regret that precise figures are not available but I estimate that rather less than half a gallon of petrol and about two gallons of diesel oil are consumed per ton of opencast coal excavated.
§ 2. Mr. Errollasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the highest cost per ton of opencast coal at present being excavated; and what is the lowest cost.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe highest production cost at present is 57s. 5d. per ton and the lowest 14s. 3d. These figures include, of course, the cost of restoring the land.
§ 3. Mr. Errollasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the total amount of dollars which have been allocated for the purchase of machinery for opencast coalmining operations in this country.
§ Mr. GaitskellAbout 29 million dollars.