§ Mr. Keelingasked the Minister of Works if he will give details of the cost of producing open-cast coal, in the same form and under the same headings, so far as applicable, as those for mined coal given in Table 35 of the Statistical Digest issued by the Minister of Fuel and Power.
§ Mr. SandysOpen-cast coal operations are differently organised to those of under- 75W ground mining and the elements of cost are therefore not available on a comparable basis. However, I am supplying a detailed analysis which will, I hope, give my hon. Friend the information he needs.
Statement of Approximate Costs of Opencast Coal for the period from commencement in November, 1941, to 28th June, 1944. Description. Amount. Per Ton. £ 1. General Excavation of Topsoil, Overburden, and Coal, and other Production Costs at Sites 12,896,563 27/3 2. Other Costs: (a) Prospecting and Boring 473,373 1/- (b) Royalties and Compensation 512,821 1/1 (c) Operating Costs of Screening and loading plants, stocking and transport to Disposal Points or Stocking Grounds 1,478,184 3/1 (d) Amortisation of Capital Expenditure on Screening Plants and Railway Loading Centres, etc. … 975,780 2/1 (e) Establishment Charges (i.e. Salaries, Travelling, Accommodation, General Office Expenses, etc.) of 5 per cent. on expenditure 816,837 1/9 3. Total Approximate Costs for the Period £17,153,558 36/3 4. Tonnage of Opencast Coal Excavated 9,467,456 Tons.