§ 79. Mr. H. Fraserasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the proposed dollar expenditure on opencast coal mining for 1950–51; and whether he has any further statement to make on the ending of opencast operations.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerThe only dollar expenditure for the opencast working of coal in the year 1950–51 will be for spare parts for American machines. The sum will be relatively small, but I regret that I can give no precise estimate. The policy of the Government was explained to the House by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Economic Affairs on 9th May, 1949.
§ 83. Mr. Fortasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the boring operations in the Ightenhill area between Padiham and Burnley have revealed coal deposits which his Department intends to mine by opencast methods.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerProspecting in the Ightenhill area will not be completed until the end of the year. The results so far obtained indicate that enough coal of suitable quality will probably be found to make opencast working worth while.