HC Deb 21 September 1943 vol 392 cc30-1
90. Mr. Parker

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what functions the Home Coal Distribution Scheme was intended to perform; whether the officers of this scheme are appointed by him or by the coal trade; and to what do their salaries amount?

Major Lloyd George

As the answer is somewhat long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The House Coal Distribution (Emergency) Scheme was set up in 1940 in order to provide machinery for enabling the coal distributive trade to adapt itself to the circumstances of war. The Scheme is an executive organisation and is responsible for implementing in respect of the coal distributive trade measures of policy decided by my Department in consultation with the Merchants' Consultative Committee, which represents all aspects of the coal distributive trade.

In present circumstances, the main primary functions of the Scheme are:

  1. (1) to ensure the equitable distribution among merchants of the coal allocated to the house coal trade;
  2. (2) to collaborate with the Coal Supplies Officers of my Department in preparing and operating the programmes for consigning house coal to merchants' depots;
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  3. (3) to ensure that house coal is delivered by merchants with the maximum possible economy in transport and manpower.

In addition to these executive functions, the House Coal Officers of the Scheme also act as advisers to the Regional Controllers of my Department on matters affecting the coal distributive trade in their regions.

Apart from the Director-General, who, at the request of the trade by whom he is remunerated, was released by the then Secretary for Mines, with the approval of the Treasury, to take up the post, the Senior Officers of the Scheme were originally appointed by my Department, but since these officers were transferred to the Scheme on 1st December, 1942, their appointments have been made by the Director-General in consultation with the trade and subject to my Department's approval.

The salaries of the staff at headquarters and of the 13 House Coal Officers (two of whom receive no salary) and 40 Assistant House Coal Officers at the regional offices amount to £51,054 which is met from a grant of £70,000 made by the Treasury in aid of the expenses of the Scheme. The majority of the officers of the Scheme, comprising about 600 District House Coal Officers and about 5,000 Depot Managers, are unpaid.