HC Deb 20 February 1978 vol 944 c453W
Sir John Rodgers

asked the Secretary of State for Energy by how much he calculates that the price of domestic coal will increase as a result of the recently announced miners' wage settlement.

Mr. Benn

The National Coal Board announced on 13th February that the present general level of the Board's prices for house coal and domestic smokeless fuels will be held until 1st November when prices charged to merchants will rise by about 10 per cent. Wages and related costs account for nearly 50 per cent. of the cost of producing coal and so an increase of 10 per cent. in earnings will add about 5 per cent. to the cost of production.