HC Deb 27 November 1947 vol 444 cc2099-100
17. Commander Pursey

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make a monthly statement, and have it promulgated in all local fuel offices, giving the percentage of the allocation of domestic coal supplied and what should have been the average delivery per registered consumer, excluding licences, in each of the fuel regions for the previous month, so that consumers may have some idea of the amount of coal they should have received and a check against merchants' failure to deliver a proper quota of coal.

Mr. Gaitskell

No, Sir.

Commander Pursey

Arising out of that reply, is the Minister aware of the cock-and-bull stories that are being told by merchants as excuses for not delivering the proper quota of coal, such as horses having gone mad and having had to be shot?

Mr. Gaitskell

I should naturally be glad to hear from my hon. Friend all stories of that character which he cares to pass on to me.

18. Commander Pursey

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of domestic coal consumers in the Borough of Wandsworth registered with Rickett, Cockerill & Co., and their subsidiaries, Stratton Gentry, Cornwall and others; the number to whom the full 15 cwt. summer allocation was delivered between 1st May and 31st October; the number who received less than the London average delivery of 10 cwt. during that period and the reasons; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent this firm, in future, being five months behind with their deliveries.

Mr. Gaitskell

Messrs. Rickett Cockerill & Company and their subsidiary companies have 13,225 domestic registrations in the Borough of Wandsworth. I regret that the full information asked for in the second part of the Question is not readily available, but I am informed that not less than 10 cwt. have been delivered against nearly every order placed with the five main depots of the principal firm, representing some 10,000 customers. I am also informed that there are no arrears of delivery of the extent suggested in the last part of the Question.

19. Commander Pursey

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what action he proposes to take as regards a Press announcement, a copy of which has been sent to him, made by the Hull and District Coal Merchants' Association, stating that owing to restricted supplies distributors did not anticipate being able to deliver more than 10 bags (12½ cwt.) of coal out of the current allocation of 12 bags (15 cwt.) during the period 1st November to 31st January; and whether he will state the likely average delivery of domestic, coal, excluding licences, per registered consumer in Hull during this period, in view of the increased coal output and increased stocks in merchants' yards.

Mr. Gaitskell

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None, Sir." With regard to the second part, I have nothing at present to add to the last paragraph of the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 20th November.

Commander Pursey

Can the Minister deny or confirm the statement being made by the coal merchants in Hull that there is to be a cut in coal for domestic consumption as from 1st December, and that it is to be transferred to industries for the export trade?

Mr. Gaitskell

I can certainly deny that rumour. The domestic coal allocation is, in fact, the same as last year, allowing for increased registration. There is no truth in the rumour to which my hon. and gallant Friend has referred.

Commander Pursey

That statement is definitely being made by the merchants in Hull today.