§ 96. Mr. Charles Smithasked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the statement regarding the programme of the National Coal Board made on page 27 of Cmd. 7268, whether he will make it clear that the programme estimate contained in the Report of European Economic Committee of the equivalent of 1,042 million dollars for mining equipment excluding pitprops and rails over the next four years represents the government's estimate of a target for the industry; and whether this estimate has been reduced as a result of the policy described in Cmd. 7268; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RobensThe figure of 1,042 million dollars to which my hon. Friend refers represented an estimate of the total consumption requirements of coalmining244W equipment for the four years 1948–51, excluding structural steel and mining timber of all kinds. These requirements were subsequently re-estimated, on mote detailed consideration, at 1,002 million dollars approximately. This latter estimate still stands and has not been affected by the policy described in Cmd. 7268, though the possibility of review, in the light of further examination, cannot be precluded.