Bill Nationalises Whole Of British Coal Industry

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1945, Page 5

Bill Nationalises Whole Of British Coal Industry

(Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 20 The Coal Industry Nationalisation Bill published today will bring the whole of the coal industry, including various enterprises directly associated with it, under public ownership and control through the National Coal Board of nine members.

The bill provides for the nationalisation of mines, colliery coke-ovens, manufactured fuel plants, colliery electricity plants, colliery transportation works, colliery merchanting property and welfare.

The board will be granted the exclusive right of working and getting coal in Britain. It is directed to secure efficient development of the coal industry and to make adequate quantities of coal available at reasonable prices. The bill does not fix the amount of compensation which will be referred to a special tribunal. SUM FOR COMPENSATION The tribunal is directed to determine the round sum required ,to pay fair compensation and must not make allowances; either because acquisition is compulsory or distribution of compensation among owners will involve expense.

Coal will be subject to the general direction of the Minister for Fuel (Mr Shinwell) on matters appearing to him to affect the national interest. The Minister will be advised on matters affecting the sale or supply by two councils representing industrial and domestic consumers, which will also be set up under a Nationalisation Capital Board.

Needs will be provided from sums advanced by the Minister aggregating £150,000,000 for the first five years after the commencement of the act. In addition, the board can borrow temporarily a maximum of £10,000,000. No Member of Parliament may be a member of the board. (FURTHER REFERENCE TO THE COAL BILL on PAGE 10)