HC Deb 09 February 1965 vol 706 cc51-2W
45. Mr. J. Hill

asked the Minister of Power what consultations he has now had, in reviewing the prospects of the coal industry, with the Chairman of the National Coal Board on the extra charge on Scottish coal.

Mr. John Morris

My right hon. Friend is consulting the National Coal Board on its financial prospects, but I cannot forecast what changes there may be in the Board's pricing policies.

46. Mr. Kelley

asked the Minister of Power what productive capacity has been planned for the coal industry for the next 10 years.

Mr. Frederick Lee

The present capacity of the industry is around 200 million tons and there is no question of the Government arbitrarily requiring a reduction in this. In 1963 our sales of coal at home and abroad exceeded 200 million tons. In 1964 sales of coal, including exports of 6 million tons, amounted to about 193 million tons, which broadly matched production in that year from our deep-mines (about 187 million tons) and opencast operations. The size of the market in any particular year depends on many factors, including the level of industrial activity, exports, the weather and other unpredictable events.

The Government accept for the present the case for trying to maintain the position of coal (deep-mined and opencast) at around its recent level of 190–200 million tons and is studying methods to assist the industry's efforts accordingly. In the longer-term, the coal industry will be fitted into our national fuel policy and our national plan on the lines indicated in the House on 21st January.

I hope this statement of the Government's intentions towards the coal industry will dispose of recent alarmist reports in the Press about the prospects of employment in the industry.

47. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Power how many redundancies are foreshadowed in the Northumberland and Durham divisions within the next three years; and what retraining and other facilities will be available for immediate use.

Mr. John Morris

The National Coal Board is often able to redeploy men within the industry itself and it is not possible to predict redundancies three years ahead; but the Board is in touch with Departments concerned with regional development, and the policy of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour is that retraining facilities should remain adequate.