Skip to main content

Opencast Mining

Volume 476: debated on Monday 26 June 1950

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

79.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the proposed dollar expenditure on opencast coal mining for 1950–51; and whether he has any further statement to make on the ending of opencast operations.

The only dollar expenditure for the opencast working of coal in the year 1950–51 will be for spare parts for American machines. The sum will be relatively small, but I regret that I can give no precise estimate. The policy of the Government was explained to the House by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Economic Affairs on 9th May, 1949.

83.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the boring operations in the Ightenhill area between Padiham and Burnley have revealed coal deposits which his Department intends to mine by opencast methods.

Prospecting in the Ightenhill area will not be completed until the end of the year. The results so far obtained indicate that enough coal of suitable quality will probably be found to make opencast working worth while.