§ 16. Mr. ROWLANDSasked the President of the Board of Trade if Mr. B. Vicary, 202, Ormond Avenue, East Wickham, applied to the coal overseer, Bexley Heath, on 23rd January, to transfer from the present retailer to the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society, and he was informed that he could not change; and is it a fact that he could change if he desired, and that many persons have changed from one retailer to another?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANTransfer of registration from one coal retailer to another is only permissible for good reasons and 11 with the consent of the local fuel overseer. Mr. Vicary had registered with a retailer who appears to have discharged his obligations to supply with regularity, but has applied to the local overseer for a transfer to the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society, and no decision has yet been given. The society in the meantime has been supplying Mr. Vicary without a certificate, and the question of what action should be taken with regard to this is under consideration. It is obvious that if consumers could change their retailers without any check the difficulty of securing a proper distribution of supplies would be largely increased.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSDo I understand the hon. Gentleman to say that the Coal Controller has given no decision in this case?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThat is my information.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSMy information is that it was refused.