HC Deb 28 October 1975 vol 898 cc419-20W
Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will give details of the expenditure incurred by the National Coal Board in the development of the CB/34 room heater;

(2) if he will publish details of the sales of National Coal Board CB/34 room heater for the years 1973–74 and the first six months of 1975;

construction, all based on advanced gas cooled (AGR) reactors. The board has provided the following estimates of construction costs, which exclude the cost of nuclear fuel:

(3) if he is satisfied with the performance of the National Coal Board CB/34 room heater.

Mr. Eadie

The National Coal Board has been responsible to date for the basic development of a series of six "Smoke Eater" appliances of which the Rayburn CB/34 is one. The board informs me that it is unable to segregate the costs applicable to the basic development of this particular appliance.

The National Coal Board does not itself manufacture or sell the Rayburn CB/34 or other appliances and it does not therefore have details of sales.

I am not in a position to judge the performance of the appliance. However, I am asking the Chairman of the NCB to write to the hon. Member on this point.

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