Prices and Costs

Oral Answers to Questions — Pensions and National Insurance – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 26 Mawrth 1956.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Patrick Bartley Mr Patrick Bartley , Chester-le-Street 12:00, 26 Mawrth 1956

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the average retail price of domestic coal per ton, showing such items as pit-head price, the cost of transport, the cost of delivery and the distributor's profit margin.

Photo of Mr Aubrey Jones Mr Aubrey Jones , Birmingham, Hall Green

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the Answer:

Records of average prices to consumers are not kept, but for the areas covered in my predecessor's reply to the hon. Member on 28th July, 1955, the information is as follows:

BASIC MAXIMUM PRICES OF GROUP 4 HOUSE COAL PER TON
LondonPart of Durham including Chester-le-Street U.D. and R.D. and Washington U.D.
s.d.s.d.
Pithead price8298311
Transport36416
Retail delivery costs270203
Retail profit margin2929
148101085
NOTE.—No account is taken of variations under the summer/winter prices scheme.

Minister

Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.