§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the time scale for (a) construction, (b) first coal production, and (c) the mines being fully operational which he approved for the Selby coalfield project, when giving his final consent; to what extent this time scale has been adhered to; what are the reasons for slippage, if any; and whether he still adheres to the estimate given by the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) to the hon. Member for New Forest (Mr. McNair-Wilson), Official Report, 13th October 1976, column 133, that production would begin in the early 1980's.
§ Mr. EadieThe planned timetable in the National Coal Board's proposals to develop the Selby coalfield were a construction period of 10 years, first coal production in 1981–82 and the whole complex fully operational by 1987–88. I understand that this timetable still stands.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will now give at November 1977 prices, the latest cost of the Selby mining project, which the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) stated on 13th October 1976 to be £400 million at March 1976 prices, on 7th March 1977 to be £440 million at August 1976 prices, and on 24th June to be £480 million at March 1977 prices.