§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Energy in what ways and at what cost the Government at present subsidise coal being used by the Central Electricity Generating Board.
§ Mr. EadieUnder section 2 of the Coal Industry Act 1977, the Government may make grants to the National Coal Board for the promotion of sales of coal to the electricity generating boards. In 1977–78 grants of £0.44 million were made under this heading for sale of coal to CEGB power stations in South Wales.
Total Government aid for the National Coal Board's mining activities in 1977–78 was £66.7 million, or £0.57 per ton of saleable output. The CEGB is the major consumer of the board's output, taking 67.8 million tons in 1977–78.