§ 97. Mr. T. Brownasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can give an assurance that there will be no limitation of capital expenditure for the short-term and long-term plan of the mining industry.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydI can assure the hon. Member that no limitation is contemplated in present circumstances.
§ 99. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the total amount of capital investment authorised in the mining industry for the years 1946 to 1950, inclusive: and for the years 1951 and 1952.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydFrom 1947 to 1951 the National Coal Board spent £114 million on capital investment in collieries. 129W For expenditure in 1952 I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 17th November to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the New Forest (ColonelCrosthwaite-Eyre). Investment at collieries has not been curtailed by Government restrictions on capital expenditure.
§ 101. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent capital development in the Scottish coal industry is keeping pace with the plan outlined in the document, "Plan for Coal"; and what are the prospects for speeding-up development in the next few years.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydI am informed that the position in regard to the development of the coal industry in Scotland is not markedly different from that of the rest of the country.
As the House will be aware from the reply I gave on 17th November to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the New Forest (Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre), the National Coal Board's capital expenditure has recently been below the level envisaged in the "Plan for Coal." The Board are, however, doing all in their power to accelerate their programme and have this year secured some improvement.