§ Mr. Alisonasked the Minister of Power what information he has received, in considering the National Coal Board's application for approval of capital expenditure on the production of Homefire smokeless fuel at its Coventry plant, as to the likely weekly and yearly output of this fuel during 1968 and 1969, and as to the likely final capital cost of the Coventry plant.
§ Mr. MasonThe bulk of the capital cost, which is estimated to total £12 million, has already been incurred. Commercial production began in October. It is expected to grow from 2,500 tons a week at present to 10,000 tons during 1970 or an annual rate of from 125,000 tons to 500,000 tons.