§ Mr. Fosterasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of colliery undertakings which are at present necessitous undertakings under the Coal (Charges) Order, 1942, Clause 6, in the mining industry and for each district, separately; the amount of money collected under the Order; and the amount paid out to such undertakings?
Major Lloyd GeorgeIn total the payments into the Coal Charges Account up to 31st March, 1943, the latest date for which complete figures are available, in respect of eight months coal production to 31st January, 1943, amounted to £19,250,000. The payments to necessitous undertakings during the year to 31st May, 1943, totalled nearly £2,250,000.
The payments to necessitous undertakings during the year ending 31st May, 1943, were as follow:
thing is being done by his Department to make a survey of the coal measures in the county of Durham, with a view to opening some of the pits now standing idle in the county, ready for the post-war period; and whether any steps are being taken to deal with the large area of coal which is at present waterlogged in the South-East part of the county?
Major Lloyd GeorgeNo, Sir; the available resources of men and materials are urgently needed to obtain the maximum production of coal from the pits now being worked and the question of a survey such as that suggested by my hon. Friend does not therefore arise as an immediate issue. The waterlogged pits referred to have 1025W been in that condition for many years and I am advised that their reopening would be a major operation requiring considerable time and man-power.