§ Mr. Swainasked the Minister of Power how much coal from other than the National Coal Board is being bought by the Central Electricity Generating Board; and whether he will take steps to prevent producers of fireclay and other minerals from mining coal as a main activity.
§ Mr. GunterIn the year ended 31st March, 1968, the Central Electricity Generating Board bought between two and a half and three million tons of coal from sources other than the National Coal Board; this included about 800,000 tons of coal from mines licensed by the N.C.B.
If my hon. Friend has any evidence of coal mining which appears to be unauthorised under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act, 1946, I would be pleased to pass on the details to the Chairman of the National Coal Board, so that the Board can consider what action to take.