§ Captain WALTER SHAW(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the feeling in the rural districts that the same restrictions as regard the amount of coal allowed, namely, half a cwt. a week, should be imposed on them as in urban districts, in view of the fact that the latter generally have the use of gas both for cooking and heating purposes, and, in view of this fact, will he not give orders whereby the country districts shall be more favourably dealt with as regard the allowance per week, and whether the Government has taken any action during the past few months with a view to importing coal for the purpose of easing the difficulty in which the country now finds itself?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI am aware that the normal coal requirements of different householders vary, not only for the reason mentioned in the question, but in many other respects as well. I fear, however, that it would be quite impracticable to prescribe different restrictions for different households. The primary necessity is to conserve supplies by restriction of consumption, and 691 it must be left to the local authorities by permit to relieve individual cases of special hardship. As regards the last part of the question, the Government has long been importing foreign coal, which has been, and will be used to mitigate the hardships arising out of the stoppage.
§ Mr. PALINGMay I ask whether, in view of the Regulations that were put into force with regard to the distribution of coal and the restriction of supply, there have been any prosecutions of people hoarding or getting more than their proper share?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI must have notice of that question.
§ Captain SHAWIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that certain coal controllers in certain parts of the country are under the impression very strongly that they have received orders from the Mines Department that they are to make no difference whatsoever in any way?
§ Colonel LANE FOXGenerally that would be true. Of course, in the country districts there are opportunities, which people living in towns do not have, of getting wood. It is impossible to discriminate. We can only have general regulations, and rely on the local authorities.
§ Captain SHAWIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many of the country districts it is more difficult to obtain wood than it is in urban districts, because the urban districts have practically bought up the wood a long time ahead?