16.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy why power station coal stocks have been allowed to fall by about 2·1 million tons as compared with a year ago.
Power station coal stocks at 24th December 1977 were about ½ million tons less than at the same time a year ago. This is the result mainly of increased coal consumption at power stations last year.
Is power station coal stocking left to the CEGB according to normal, prudent and commercial considerations, or has pressure been brought to bear by the Department on the CEGB to reduce stocks?
No pressure has been put on the CEGB to reduce stocks.
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that some years ago his right hon. Friend recommended that the miners should be enabled to acquire shares or a holding in individual pits where they worked so as to encourage their involvement in the industry? In view of the miners' determination now to relate their good capitalistic output to productivity, what does the hon. Gentleman think about that idea now? Is he prepared to admit that there is advantage to be gained now for miners by their becoming financially involved in the pits in which they work?
If the hon. Gentleman is asking what I think of the idea, I think that the idea would be rejected out of hand by those who work in the industry. Producing coal is not a matter of drawing up balance sheets. It needs men and machines to produce coal. The miners have made very substantial progress over the years, particularly since public ownership. They will not want to go back to being treated as a subject of accountancy. I remember the idea very well. It was put forward in a Private Member's Bill or in a motion. The miners have rejected it out of hand.