20. Major NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the normal supply of house coal is at present available; has he determined what percentage of the normal must be reached before the restrictions imposed on the householder are relaxed; and when can this event be expected.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe supply of household coal is still below the normal, though it is difficult to give an exact percentage and the stocks in hand are considerably less than is desirable. Economy in consumption is still very necessary, and I am afraid that the present restriction cannot safely be relaxed.
§ 21. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade if any coal was imported from Holland or Germany into this country in the years 1912, 1913, and 1914; can he give the quantities in tons; and also state who were the largest importers of this coal during those years?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe quantities of coal imported into the United Kingdom in the years specified which were consigned from the countries named were as follows:
From the Netherlands: 2,695 tons in, 1912, 46 tons in 1913, and 8,620 tons in 1914.
From Germany: 69,297 tons in 1912, 6,683 tons in 1913, and 27,073 tons in 1914.
So far as I have been able to ascertain, the principal importers were a gas company on the South Coast and certain firms, of London coal merchants.
§ 23. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Coal Controller has recently diverted coal supply trains from certain South London depots; can he state the reason why this has been done; is he aware that there is still a shortage of coal in some London districts; and that, owing to the shortage of street delivery by lorries, women and small children have to fetch it from local depots; and can he take immediate steps by an increase of cart delivery to put a stop to this practice?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe answer to the first part of this question is in the negative. The current supplies to London should be sufficient for current needs, but if the hon. Member will give specific facts showing that the distribution is uneven or defective, investigation shall be made, and the necessary adjustments made forthwith.
26. Sir J. D. REESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the machinery for controlling internal distribution of coal, in some cases at any rate, does not work to the satisfaction of the public, which often lacks coal, even in the case of localities not far distant from collieries?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe Controller of Coal Mines is aware that from time to time temporary shortages of coal occur in particular districts. The causes of these shortages are various—fall in output at a particular colliery serving a district, accident at a colliery, congestion at railway distributing sidings, shortage of trucks, and abnormal temporary demand for coal. As soon as such an occurrence is reported to the Controller, a section of the office specially instructed for the purpose deals with the case with a view to effect relief. If the hon. Member has any particular 909 instance in mind, and will furnish me with particulars, I will cause inquiry to be made.