CAB129-52 — Page 166

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6.

On the other hand, there is the fact that a decision not to work these sites would, for a time at all events, reduce our coal supplies by 20,000 tons a month and that if exports were reduced by a corresponding amount we should be losing £60,000 or so a month in hard currency. Mcreover, such a decision would virtually bar proposals for working neighbouring sites where the agricultural case will be just as strong as it is here, and in that event the sterilisation of opencast coal resources might be nearer 2 million tons than 1 million tons. Our need for increased coal production is such that we could not accept the agricultural view without our other colleagues having an opportunity to consider the matter.

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14TH JUNE, 1952

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