§ Mr. McGuireasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the cost to the balance of payments of heating public buildings by oil.
§ Mr. C. PannellI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Mr. Philip Noel-Baker) on Monday, 8th March.
§ Mr. McGuireasked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what policy he has for converting oil-burning installations in Government buildings to coal, in order to give help to the balance of payments;
(2) in view of the concern over the balance of payments, if he will ensure that new premises under his jurisdiction use home-produced coal in preference to imported fuel.
§ Mr. C. PannellWhere existing installations under my jurisdiction, whether coal or oil burning, need to be replaced, either for technical or economic reasons, a most careful and thorough comparison of the economics of coal and oil is made, taking both capital and running costs into account and on the assumption that any coal firing equipment used would be114W modern and efficient. Other things being equal, preference is given to coal.
The choice of an installation in new premises is governed by the same considerations.