HC Deb 18 March 1948 vol 448 cc2266-7
27. Mr. Randall

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the reasons which can be advanced by a consumer in order to obtain the permission of the local fuel overseer to change his or her coal merchant.

Mr. Gaitskell

A consumer has the right to change his merchant if he moves his residence, or if the business of his merchant is transferred to another owner. A change of registration is also normally permitted when there has been unsatisfactory service for which the merchant can be held responsible.

Major Legge-Bourke

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the original Order came out during the war, many people were away on active Service and did not receive the public notification of where replies could go, and since then they have been refused permission to change their suppliers because they did not see the advertisement?

Mr. Gaitskell

I am not aware of any such cases, but I will look into them if the hon. and gallant Member will give me details.

Squadron-Leader Fleming

Is it not a fact that quite recently a consumer was not allowed to change a supplier, even though the supplier had been convicted for giving short weight?

Mr. Gaitskell

An hon. Member raised that question but no details were provided.