Major Robertsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will instruct the National Coal Board to examine the wartime flat rate price increases in coal, in view of the fact that an increasing amount of coal is of varying and inferior quality.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe duties with which the National Coal Board is charged under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act. 1946, include
making supplies of coal available, of such qualities and sizes, in such quantites and at such prices, as may seem to them best calculated to further the public interest in all respects, including the avoidance of any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage.These duties involve a review of the present pithead price structure which has already been embarked upon by the Board.