§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Power what has been the cost of investigating and assessing the relative merits of conveyor belting; and why large orders were given for conveyor belting before the relative merits were assessed.
§ Mr. PeytonThe assessment of the relative merits of conveyor belting is the responsibility of the National Coal Board, which has devoted great effort to the subject over many years. Some £5,000 has been spent by the Safety in Mines Research Establishment on work related solely to the first hazard.
Continued improvement in belting has been achieved. I am advised that the Board places orders for the best quality available. If the hon. Member will let me have details of the orders to which he refers, I shall be glad to ask the Chairman of the Board to look into them and write to the hon. Member.