§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in tabular form the percentage increases in wages of mineworkers for each year during the past decade, and the percentage increase in coal prices in each of those years.
§ Mr. EmeryFollowing are the figures:
PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR Wholesale Coal Price Index Colliery Workers Cash earnings (a)(b) 1961 5.5 6.1 1962 4.8 4.0 1963 1.3 4.9 1964 0.4 4.5 1965 0.6 6.5 1966 9.0 5.3 1967 2.3 4.9 1968 0.3 5.9 1969 1.1 6.5 1970 14.0 13.6 1971 17.8 14.3 (a) Average weekly cash earnings of workers in N.C.B. mines. (b) Fiscal years from 1963–64.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average sulphur content of United Kingdom coals; and if he will ascertain from the National Coal Board and publish the steps the board is taking to reduce atmospheric pollution.
§ Mr. EmeryThe average sulphur content of United Kingdom coals as delivered to the consumer is about 1.4 per cent. Estimates of the quantity of sulphur emitted into the atmosphere as a result of coal utilisation are summarised in Appendix A.2 to Volume 1 of the National Survey of Air Pollution 1961–71, HMSO, 1972.
The National Coal Board published recently a monograph entitled "Coal and the Environment" in which the steps taken by the board to reduce atmospheric pollution are described, a copy of which has already been sent to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the ash and moisture content of British coals, the quantity of fly ash that has found 46W commercial outlets and the amount tipped during the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. EmeryThese are fairly detailed matters which fall within the day-to-day responsibilities of the industries concerned. I am therefore asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board, on the first part of the Question, and the Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board, on the second part of the Question, to write to my hon. Friend.