§ 54. Mr. JOWETTasked the Prime Minister if he has been made aware of the discontent that prevails among working people on account of the fact that, whilst the amount of coal allowed for houses containing not more than four rooms under the Household Fuel and Lighting Order is totally insufficient to provide heat for washing and drying of clothes, cooking, baking, and all other domestic requirements, provision is made in the Order for heating houses containing as many as twenty-one rooms for the use of one family; and whether he will take steps to reduce the number of rooms that may be heated for rich people in order to increase the coal ration in the homes of working people?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Albert Stanley)I have been asked by the Prime Minister to reply to this question. I am not aware of any general discontent as to the allowance of fuel for houses of not more than four rooms, and I do not think that the scale laid down in the Household Fuel and Lighting Order discriminates unfairly between large and small houses.
§ Mr. JOWETTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the large number of resolutions passed by public bodies, trade 772 union branches, and so on, protesting against this Regulation on the grounds mentioned in the question?
§ Sir A. STANLEYNo; I am not aware of them.
§ Mr. KEATINGCould the right hon. Gentleman tell us if it is a fact that 3 tons of coal per annum are allowed all small houses in England and only 1 ton per annum for houses large or small in Ireland?
§ Sir A. STANLEYI will inquire.