asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) why it has been found necessary to employ private firms to survey underground for coal;

(2) what charges private contractors are making for driving drifts through rocks while surveying for coal.

These are entirely matters for the National Coal Board.

Is my right hon. Friend contented that this work should not be done by employees of the Coal Board and that it should be given out to private firms?

I could not say, but if the Coal Board are to be confidently entrusted to undertake this responsibility on behalf of the country, it would be better to allow them to do the job.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that this matter is causing uneasiness?

I am bound to say that that suggestion occasions me some surprise, because I had not heard of it before.

Mr. Holmes:

Is my right hon. Friend aware, so far as Question 13 is concerned, that the hon. Member for Hemsworth has had experience of this kind of drift work? is he also aware that most of this work is let out on competitive contract, and that the price has to have regard to cubic extraction and the type of support used, such as barrel, arch girder or squared roof supports?

I will take note of that information.