HC Deb 22 February 1944 vol 397 cc673-4W
Mr. Daģģar

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the cost of salaries and wages at headquarters and in the regional organisation of his Department since its creation; the costs of local fuel overseers organisation; the costs of subsidies in connection with coal transport; the cost of the production of briquettes for all purposes; the costs of coal stocking programmes; the costs of loans for purchase of machinery and plant; and the money advanced to cover wage increases in the industry, together with the date for which such particulars are available.

Major Lloyd Georģe

The net cash expenditure by the Ministry of Fuel and Power, and the Mines and Petroleum Departments of the Board of Trade during the period 1st April, 1942, to 31st January, 1944, under the headings indicated is given below. Separate figures from 11th June, 1942, the date on which the Ministry was set up, are not readily available.

£
Salaries and wages—
Headquarters (including Mines' Inspectorate) 1,124,998
Regional organisation 1,477,791
Local Fuel Overseers—Grants to Local Authorities 1,172,473
Coal Transport subsidies 4,858,700
Production of briquettes (excluding capital expenditure) 21,842
Government Coal Reserves 3,090,201
*Cost of machinery and plant loaned 628,209
Advances to meet Greene Award wage increases 42,507,599
*Commitments on schemes amount in total to about £1¾ millions in value. A large proportion of machines is in course of supply from U.S.A. on lease lend terms.