HC Deb 26 February 1947 vol 433 cc2045-6
16. Mr. Frank Byers

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to what extent the domestic coal allocation in Berlin has been honoured; and what further deliveries will be made to domestic consumers and when.

Mr. J. Hynd

No programme of domestic fuel allocations has been formulated in Berlin, but there was a distribution in November of about one cwt. of brown coal briquettes for each household. Other deliveries have been made on a sector basis. In the British and American sectors, arrangements were made for 280,000 tons of brown coal briquettes to be supplied between October, 1946, and March, 1947, for distribution on the basis of six cwts. for each household of three or four persons. One hundred and eighty thousand tons have so far been distributed.

Mr. Byers

Is it possible to say what steps are being taken now to ensure that there is adequate heating in those houses during the exceptionally severe weather?

Mr. Hynd

Yes, Sir. We have sought to maintain, and with some success, the heating arrangements by means of gas, electricity, and so on, the availability of wood fuel, and, of course, the bringing in of as much coal as possible to meet requirements for domestic purposes.