§ 25. Mr. James Griffithsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has formed an estimate of the amount of coal required for all needs for the next 12 months and the possibilities of producing the coal required; and whether he is satisfied that the coal can be produced with the present man-power?
Major Lloyd GeorgeMy hon. Friend will appreciate that it is difficult to deal with this matter adequately by means of Question and Answer. There are so many unknown factors that any estimate, however carefully made, may need constant revision. I can assure my hon. Friend, however, that the question of production in the light of the known wastage of manpower is very carefully watched.
§ Mr. GriffithsWhile appreciating that no specific estimate could be made, the likelihood is that the need for coal both here and abroad will increase during the next 12 months, and is my right hon. and gallant Friend satisfied that the present man-power in the industry can meet that demand?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThis is one of the difficulties of trying to deal with the matter by Question and Answer, as my hon. Friend will appreciate. For instance, tremendous economies were made last year without any effect on the war effort at all, and when I say the "unknown factors" it is almost impossible to give a figure for them, but provided we do not get a bad setback in production, I am confident that we shall be able to get the coal we want.
§ Mr. ShinwellHas the right hon. and gallant Gentleman accepted the conclusions of the Select Committee on National Expenditure, and, if so, what action does he propose to take?
Major Lloyd GeorgeAs most of the information in that Report came from my own Department, I probably do.
§ Mr. ThorneDoes the advice of my right hon. and gallant Friend that people should get in as much coal as they can in the summer still hold good?