§ Colonel J. R. H. Hutchisonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what sum of money has been spent since 1st January, 1947, on new machinery for coalmines: of this sum what is represented by coal cutting, coal transporting and other types of mining mechanised equipment; and of the total how much was purchased abroad.
§ Mr. ShinwellInformation as to expenditure by the National Coal Board under various heads will become available when the Board's accounts are made up at the end of the financial year and could not be made available by the National Coal Board at an earlier date without extensive investigation. I would remind the hon. Member that, unless Section 31 (4) of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946, a copy of the Board's annual statement of accounts will in due course be laid before each House of Parliament.