HC Deb 05 July 1971 vol 820 c241W
62. Mr. Longden

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the present position of stocks of smokeless fuel and other solid fuels.

Mr. Ridley

Stocks of solid smokeless fuels are substantially higher than a year ago. Total stocks of coal are at about the same level as a year ago and are increasing.

PRINCIPAL PRICE INCREASES, 1ST JULY, 1970 TO 1ST JULY, 1971
Coal
September. 1970 Coking Coal (with consequences for smokeless fuel). 15 to 16 per cent.
November, 1970 General Purpose Coal (with consequences for smokeless fuel). 16 per cent. approx.
April, 1971 Industrial Coal 11 per cent. (6 per cent. in Yorkshire and Midlands).
Carbonisation Coal 16 per cent. (11 per cent. in Yorkshire and Midlands).
Furnace Coke £2.25 a ton.
Foundry Coke £3.50 a ton.
July 1971 General Purpose Coke £1.95 a ton.
Domestic Coals (average) and smokeless fuel 7 to 8 per cent.
Electricity Boards in England and Wales
January to April. 1971 Increases expected to produce a total increas se in revenue of 9 per cent. including:
Normal domestic tariffs (15 per cent. for N.E. Electricity Board) 12 to 13 per cent.
Off-peak domestic tariffs 19 per cent.
Maximum demand tariffs around (in addition to automatic increases under fuel cost clauses in contracts) 4 per cent.
Exact figures vary from area board to area board.
Area Gas Boards
1st January, 1971 Domestic tariffs 8 per cent. (average for all boards).
All tariffs 6 per cent. (average for all boards).
British Steel Corporation
16th October, 1970 Selective increases on various products, averaging 5 per cent.
11th April, 1971 Selective increases on various products, averaging 7 per cent.
B.E.A. and B.O.A.C.
International Air Fares Increases of 3 to 5 per cent. in two stages (November, 1970 and April, 1971) agreed by the International Air Transport Association and approved by the Government.
Domestic Air Fares Increases of 8 to 11 per cent. from 1st April, 1971, approved by the Government following an appeal by the airlines against a refusal by the Air Transport Licensing Board to authorise them.