Domestic Coal (Allocation) (Hansard, 8 June 1943)

§ Mr. Cocks
This Question has been slightly altered. I did not intend to make any reflection on any particular merchant.

Major Lloyd George
The maximum permitted quantities are intentionally fixed higher than the average available per registration. Merchants generally are distributing their supplies as equitably as possible within the maximum quantities permitted. I am quite prepared to take action in any case where it is shown that a consumer has been left without coal owing to unjustified discrimination by a merchant between consumers.

§ Mr. Cocks
Has the right hon. and gallant Gentleman any legal power to prevent a merchant supplying a customer with the 25 cwts. permitted by law even if it has the result that others have to take less than 15 cwts.?

Major Lloyd George
No, there is no need to. The 25 cwts. is a maximum and not a ration. There is no reason why he should not go up to the 25 cwts., provided he has not more than a certain amount in his cellar.

§ 7 and 8. Mr. Cocks
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether he is aware that the announcement by his Department that 25 cwts. is the maximum quantity of coal permitted to any domestic consumer during the current restriction period is having a misleading effect 512 on the public and causing considerable confusion; and, as in no district in the country are house supplies adequate to allow 25 cwts. to every customer, will he now make a further statement;
(2) whether, in considering the maximum amount of coal to be permitted to any domestic consumer during the period July to September, he will fix a figure which will bear a closer relation to the amount of coal available than the figure of the current period?

Major Lloyd George
It has been emphasised repeatedly that the maximum permitted quantities are above the average quantity available per consumer, and are not rations to which all consumers are entitled irrespective of their needs. Many consumers, owing to the limited size of their household, or their use of gas or electricity for cooking and heating, can manage with quantities considerably below the maximum. Moreover, many consumers will be precluded by the stock limit of two tons from obtaining the full permitted quantity. These facts make it possible to fix the permitted quantity at a figure which materially exceeds the average supply available per registration, thus enabling many thousands of householders, whose needs are slightly above the average, to obtain their requirements without applying for licences. I would also point out that during the summer the general reduction in consumption and demand leaves a margin available for stocking against the requirements of the following winter. The present arrangement has operated satisfactorily for over a year, and I do not consider it advisable to make any change.

§ Mr. Cocks
Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that many members of the public object to receiving only 15 cwt. when they are allowed 25 cwt. and know that some are getting it, especially when the Department is urging members of the public to get by licence extra soal for stocking? Is he further aware that many merchants, and even local fuel overseers, would like the figure reduced in the next period and cannot understand why the Department is so obstinate, which obstinancy is so unlike the Minister himself?

Major Lloyd George
I appreciate the hon. Member's observation. He need not worry too much in view of what happened 513 last summer. We had no difficulty then about it, and there is no need to change, because the allocation given to districts bears a very close resemblance to the actual consumption last year. It has been carefully worked out throughout the country. While there may be some difficulty in individual cases, taking the districts as a whole it is working satisfactorily.