§ 59. Mr. Summersasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the effect on the distribution of coal in Northampton and district of the further call-up of lorry-drivers now employed in this work; and whether he will consult with the Ministry of Labour with a view to avoiding any further deterioration in the facilities for coal distribution on this account?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI am aware that Northampton in common with other districts has lost labour employed in the coal distributive trade. I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service.
§ Mr. SummersWill the Minister take note that stocks in houses are going down and stocks at stations are going up and lorries are standing idle for want of drivers, and that, in spite of that unsatisfactory state of affairs, further drivers are being called up and making the situation worse?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI am aware that the position has become more difficult in the past 12 months, and that is why I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend.
§ 60. Mr. Buchananasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is satisfied with the present position of supplies of coal to Glasgow; whether he is aware that much of the alleged coal supplied is stone; and, as the allowance of one cwt. 1764 weekly is inadequate for tenement dwellers who have no storage and no other means of heat in most cases, will he take action to avoid this hardship?
Major Lloyd GeorgeCertain adjustments have recently been made in the allocation of house coal supplies to Glasgow, and I am now satisfied that the Glasgow allocation compares favourably with that available for the rest of Scotland. With regard to complaints as to the quality of the coal, I would point out that some deterioration in quality is inevitable in war-time circumstances, and I have no evidence that the position in Glasgow is abnormal in this respect. With regard to the maintenance of supplies to consumers without storage space, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 1st December to the hon. Member for Skipton (Mr. Rickards).
§ Mr. BuchananIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in certain cases people in small tenements, who have no storage, have not been supplied with coal for weeks and that, if the winter becomes severe, the situation will rapidly become extremely serious?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI was not aware of the circumstance until the hon. Member referred it to me, but I think he had an interview with my officers up there. I should be most grateful if he would bring any circumstances of that kind to my notice, because I am most anxious that what he refers to should not occur.
§ Mr. BuchananIs it not a terrible hardship that a quarter or a half of the coal supplied is stone? Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman see that poor people have at least as good a quality of coal as any other section of the community?
Major Lloyd GeorgeMy hon. Friend will appreciate that, in times of war, it is not possible to have exactly the same quality of coal as before. I should certainly regard the proportions that the hon. Member mentions as being excessive.