COAL PRICES IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25273, 27 August 1947, Page 7

COAL PRICES IN BRITAIN

BOARD ANNOUNCES INCREASES „ LONDON, August 25. The National Coal Board, announcing an increase of 4s a ton in the price of coal at the pithead from August 31, says that the cost of the five-day week end other new benefits for the mineworkers are the main factors making the increase necessary. The board also says that further increases in the price of delivered coal will be necessary when railway freight rates are increased on October 1. The price of coal at the pithead has increased by 23s 5d a ton since 1939. The board explains that the estimated current loss a ton of coal produced m Britain is 39d, but the board is also bearing the cost of keeping the price of imported American and Polish coal at the British level so that the ov <££' all loSs a ton is 45d. The board estimates that the cost in wages of the five-day week is substantially higher than 30d a ton, but this gross cost is partly offset by the increased production a man shift. The board, therefore, includes the estimate of 30d for increased wages costs in its estimate of the increased cost a ton of coal.

The board says that this additional cost will be reduced if and when the remaining restrictions on output are eliminated and when new personnel become fully productive.