§ Sir G. Ellistonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will state the average pithead prices of coal in each year from 1939 to 1945; the approximate tonnage of industrial coal used during 1944; and the approximate total increased cost to industrialists of such fuel compared with pre-war prices.
Major Lloyd GeorgThe average pithead prices of coal and the quantities used by industry in each of the years1939 to 1944 are given in Tables 9 and 10 respectively of the Statistical Digest, 1944 (Cmd. 6639) recently published. The average pithead price for the first quarter of 1945 is not yet available. The cost of coal to industrialists varies considerably according to variations in source, quality and length of haulage, but it is estimated that the total cost of coal used by the iron and steel, engineering and other industries in 1944 was approximately £40,000,000 more than in 1939.