HC Deb 13 November 1947 vol 444 cc543-5
66. Commander Pursey

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what percentage of the allocation of domestic coal for the six months' summer allocation period, from 1st May to 31st October, was supplied to Hull; what should have been the average amount delivered per premises; and what was the average amount delivered per premises.

Mr. Gaitskell

During the period referred to, receipts of house coal in the Hull district amounted to 93.3 of the programmed allocation, after making the normal allowances for colliery holidays. The maximum permitted under the existing restrictions for delivery in the North, except under licence, is not more than 20 cwt. per registered premises during the summer period. Disposals to domestic consumers in the Hull district during the summer period averaged 19.2 cwt. per registered household, including deliveries made under licence from local fuel overseers to consumers who rely on coal for cooking or have other special needs.

Commander Pursey

Will the Minister say whether there is any authority for the statement, made in October by Hull merchants, that the Government have ordered a 50 per cent. cut in the second delivery of 10 cwt., and what steps he is taking to ensure that the consumers receive the balance of 5 cwt. then denied them?

Mr. Gaitskell

So far as I know, there was no authority for any such announcement. As I pointed out, the average delivery was only slightly below the maximum.

67. Commander Pursey

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the average delivery of coal to domestic consumers in the London area was only just over 10 cwt. per registered household, out of the 15 cwt. allocation for the six months, 1st May to 31st October; and why the average delivery for the county of Norfolk during the same period was 15.8 cwt.

Mr. Gaitskell

Because Norfolk has a greater need of solid fuel for cooking and heating than London, which is more extensively equipped with gas and electricity.

Commander Pursey

Will the Minister confirm or deny the prevalent report in coal circles that less coal is to be supplied to London this winter than last year? Does he appreciate that the prewar London average sale of 25 cwt. is a fallacious basis on which to arrange present supplies?

Mr. Gaitskell

There is certainly no truth in the rumour that less coal is to go to London; in fact, allocations are slightly more than last winter. As far as the prewar level is concerned, that has really nothing to do with the allocations now.

68. Commander Pursey

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of merchants and dealers, respectively, who supply the Borough of Wandsworth with domestic coal; the number who, during the six months 1st May to 31st October allocation period, did not deliver 10 cwt. per registered consumer out of the 15 cwt. allocation; and whether he will consider withdrawing the licence to sell coal from merchants who fail to make an equitable delivery to their registered customers.

Mr. Gaitskell

The number of licensed coal merchants with registrations in Wandsworth is 244. The register does not differentiate between merchants and dealers, but the number of dealers is about 50. I regret that the information requested in the second part of the Question could not be made available without a vast amount of clerical labour, including a detailed examination of books of merchants covering some 115,000 consumers in Wandsworth. With regard to the last part of the Question, a consumer who fails to obtain reasonable service from his merchant can apply to the local fuel overseer for assistance, or for a transfer of his registration to another merchant.