§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will tabulate in the Official Report the pithead price of the major grades of coal together with the usual retail price and indicate the approximate split between trunk transport, local distribution cost and profit per ton.
§ Mr. EadieThe estimated current average pithead realisations are:
Type of Coal £/ton Domestic 16.40 industrial 17.75 Power station 14.45 Coke oven 23.10 Because of the wide variations in transport costs according to distance and type of market supplied it is not possible to give representative figures for transport, distribution costs or profits. I am asking the Chairman of the NCB to write to my hon. Friend on this matter.
§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his plans to control increases in prices of coal, gas and electricity within the 5 per cent. limit in the first six months in 1976; and what payments he calculates would be necessary to compensate the industries affected.
§ Mr. BennThere will be discussions with the nationalised industries on the scope for bringing their prices within the scheme for restraint on selected products of special importance in family expenditure referred to in paragraph 33 of Cmnd. 6151 "The Attack on Inflation", but it remains the Government's intention to move towards economic pricing. Paragraph 36 of "The Attack on Inflation" records that there are good prospects that the rate of price increase in the nationalised industries as a whole should be markedly lower next year.