§ 86. Mr. NEWBOULDasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the difficulty of consumers in obtaining household coal; whether this is due to the differentiation in the price between coal sold for domestic use and coal sold for industrial purposes; and whether when this differentiation was made measures were taken to secure adequate supplies for householders?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Bridge-man)I have been asked to reply. I am aware that difficulties in obtaining household coal have occurred in certain localities, but such difficulties cannot altogether be avoided so long as the total supply of coal available for inland consumption remains substantially below the demand. Every effort has been and will continue to be made to secure the observance of instructions which have been given to all the collieries that the supply of coal for house purposes must have precedence over all other demands. As stated on the 10th December, in reply to the hon. Member for Poplar, South, my right hon. 658 Friend has no reason to suppose that the differentiation in price to which he refers has affected the position.