§ 29. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Power what estimate he has of the contraction of coal output arising from further pit closures; and what discussions have taken place between his department and the National Coal Board on redundancy and the effect on local authorities.
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§ Mr. Frederick LeeI cannot at present give useful estimates of the kind requested. When exhausted or uneconomic pits are closed their output may, where necessary, be replaced by output from other pits including new and reconstructed pits. There are regular discussions on the consequencies of closures between my Department, the National Coal Board, and other authorities concerned, at both national and regional levels.
§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Power what estimate has been formed of the capital cost of collieries closed since nationalisation.
§ Mr. Frederick LeeI am advised by the National Coal Board that the cost of vested collieries was brought into the Board's accounts on the basis of the compensation value apportioned by compensation units and not necessarily by individual collieries. No estimate of the cost of collieries closed since nationalisation is available.