§ 32. Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that complaints are being made by co-operative societies that there is an unfair distribution of coal and instances are given where customers of colliery companies are getting greater supplies than customers of the co-operative societies; and will he take action to get supplies equally distributed?
§ Mr. T. SmithYes, Sir, but I think they are to some extent exaggerated. With regard to the second part of the Question, arrangements are now being made throughout the country to allocate house coal from the coalfields to each depot, and in turn to each of the merchants operating from the depot, according to the number and estimated needs of the premises served.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in some areas it is almost impossible to get coal from the co-operative society because they have not got it to deliver, and that ordinary traders are delivering it by the ton?
§ Mr. SmithI shall be very pleased if the hon. Member will supply me with particulars, and I will go into them.
§ Mr. TinkerMay I ask my hon. Friend to pay close attention to this, because there is great dissatisfaction and a feeling that private traders are taking advantage of the situation and that co-operative societies are suffering?
§ Mr. SmithI went into this matter very closely indeed, and the answer represents the facts as we know them.