§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in order to utilise the abundance of suitable coal mined in Great Britain for use by the horticultural industry in its glasshouse boilers, he will consider subsidising those growers converting from oil-fired boilers and establishing a scheme to enable the National Coal Board to sell its product as competitively as possible.
§ Mr. John MooreFinancial support towards the capital costs of converting glasshouse boilers from oil to coal firing is already available under the scheme announced by the Minister of State, Industry on 22 May 1981. Assistance towards these costs may also be available to horticulturists from the capital grant schemes administered by the agricultural departments. The NCB already endeavours to ensure that the prices it charges to customers, including horticulturists, are as competitive as possible. The board's recent price increase was below the level of general inflation.