National Coal Board (Report and Accounts)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 20 July 1955.

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Photo of Mr Philip Noel-Baker Mr Philip Noel-Baker , Derby South 12:00, 20 July 1955

I will put all my questions and then see what the Government say.

Did the Government wait until the Election was safely over before they agreed to what "The Times" this morning says was obviously required? Did the Cabinet thereby deprive the Coal Board of 10s. a ton on six months' production, that is, on a 100 million tons? Did they thus increase the difficulties of the Coal Board, and the burden on the miners by £50 million? Did the Cabinet do so, not in the interests of the nation, but in the interests of the Tory Party? If so, were not the Cabinet playing politics with nationalisation in an unscrupulous and shameful way?