HC Deb 13 April 1951 vol 486 cc115-6W
Mr. Bell

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the average cost, per ton, at the pithead of coal, on any convenient date in each of the years 1947 to 1950, for delivery inland and for export; and also the latest convenient date.

Mr. Robens

The figures of the average pithead proceeds published by the National Coal Board do not differentiate between internal and export sales. Average pithead proceeds for all sales were:

s. d.
1947 40 3
1948 47 2.5
1949 47 11.5
1950 (first three quarters) 47 10.7

The average f.o.b. value of coal exported is given in the Trade and Navigation Accounts as follows:

s. d.
1947 47 7
1948 74 1
1949 73 0
1950 73 8

The latter figures include a variable element of internal transport costs, and there are also differences in quality between the coals covered by them and those covered by total proceeds.