§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what, since nationalisation, has been the total amount of capital written off or suspended for the National Coal Board ; and what has been the total of revenue subsidies paid to the coal industry under all guises.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinI have been asked to reply.
Capital reconstructions in 1965 and 1973 reduced the board's capital debt by £415 million and £449.6 million respectively. Grants totalling £64.5 million were paid to the board under the Coal Industry Acts of 1965, 1967 and 1971 during financial years 1966–67 to 1972–73. The estimate of grants payable in 1973–74 under the 1973 Act is £141.6 million. A special deficit grant of £100 million was paid in 1971–72 to reduce the deficit below the statutory limit of £100 million.