§ 40. Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the contracts the Government have placed with United Kingdom shipbuilding companies during the past year.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantThe Department of Trade and Industry placed no shipbuilding contracts in this period. Contracts have, however, been placed by
£ million 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 Reduction of liabilities and creation of reserve fund (Coal Industry Act 1965 s.2) 415 — — — — — — Emergency revenue grant to keep deficit within statutory limit — — — — — — 100 Extra cost of using coal in place of cheaper fuels (Coal Industry Act 1967 s. 6): Central Electricity Generating Board — — 1.5 9.2 3.4 0.7 0.8 Area Gas Boards — — — 1.2 1.2 0.6 — Payments have also been made which do not subsidise the production or sale of energy but help the industries to achieve the Government's wider objectives. Payments totalling £44.5 million have been made to the National Coal Board in the years 1966–67 to 1971–72 to help meet the social costs of pit closures and £2.4 million was paid in 1967–68 to 1968–69 to reimburse the Board for losses incurred in consequence of postponed closures. Payments totalling £149,471 were made to the gas
224Wother Departments and I will send further information about these to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.