§ 85. Mr. TOOTILLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether new regulations with regard to coal registration are under consideration; and whether consideration will be given to the advisability of abolishing the datum period principle now operating, and of securing supplies to merchants being allotted on the basis of the number of registered customers and their requirements, as the only fair method of distribution?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe Household Fuel and Lighting Order, 1919, which has just been issued, provides that every person requiring coal for household purposes shall register with a coal merchant or dealer for the supply of such coal. A consumer who has already registered, but desires to change his coal merchant or dealer, must make application to the local fuel overseer of his district before the 12th July. The question of the adjustment of coal merchants' supplies to meet the new conditions is receiving consideration.