§ Mr. Burkeasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the total cost of machinery, vehicles, etc., purchased for open-cast coal production and supply; and from which countries were machines, etc., imported.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerThe total expenditure incurred by His Majesty's Government, from the start of operations in 1942 to the end of March, 1950, on the purchase of excavating machinery, vehicles, etc. (including spare parts), for the production of opencast coal, and on materials and the installation of railway sidings, screens, washeries and other servicing plant and equipment, in connection with the treatment and disposal of the coal, has been approximately £14 million. Of this, some £5½ million was spent on excavators and other machines imported from the United States, and some £94,000 on imports from Belgium.
§ Mr. Burkeasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the amount of open cast coal produced in the Burnley area since 1946; and how much per ton has it cost.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerAbout 740,000 tons since 1st April, 1946. Area cost figures are not available for the whole period, but for the last quarter of 1949, which is the latest period for which figures are 105W available, the average cost for about 50,000 tons of coal produced was 45s. 9d. and the average price realised 51s. 5d. a ton.