Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Minister of Power if he will list the increases in the price of coal which have taken place in the various divisions of the National Coal Board since October, 1964, together with an indication of the amount of each rise.
§ Mr. MarshOn 1st April, 1966, the National Coal Board increased the pithead price of coals for industry, electricity and gas as follows:
Coalfield Increase a ton Scotland 15s. Northumberland 15s. Durham 16s. Yorkshire 7s. 6d. Cumberland 18s. Lancashire and North Wales 15s. East Midlands Nil North and South Staffs and Cannock 14s. Warwickshire 21s. 6d. South Wales, Somerset and Kent 30s. On all coals delivered to coke ovens, the increase was limited to l0s a ton except in the case of Yorkshire (7s. 6d.) and East Midlands (Nil).
The Board's prices of domestic coal sold delivered to merchants were increased on 1st May, 1966 as follows:
ENGLAND AND WALES AND SCOTLAND ZONE 57 (i.e. the Border counties of Berwick, Roxburgh and Selkirk) Grade Increase a ton Special, Groups 1 and 2 20s. Groups 3 and 4 10s. Groups 5 and ungrouped 5s. Welsh anthracite and dry steam coal Scotland (except Zone 57) 20s. Groups 1 and 5 10s. Groups 6 and 7 5s.