§ 44. Mr. Ivor Thomasasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the present policy of his Department with regard to the preparation of coal for consumption?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe practice in the industry is for collieries to screen, clean, grade and, where necessary, crush coal to meet the needs of the various types of fuel-burning plants in industrial undertakings. It will be the policy of my Ministry to continue this practice and to extend it where practicable. The limit to which this policy can be carried is governed by the availability of steel supplies.
§ Mr. ThomasIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that coal is not being cleaned to anything like the pre-war extent, and may not this be a short-sighted policy, both from the point of view of consumption and from the point of view of the extra weight carried by the railways?