§ 2. Mr. David Rentonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the coal described as Alvecote Bakers Nuts, which is being supplied to consumers in St. Neots and district, Hunts, is useless for domestic consumption; and whether he will take steps to ensure that such coal is not supplied to consumers in future, and is replaced by fuel of good quality.
§ Mr. GaitskellI agree that Alvecote coal is of low quality but a small proportion must continue to be included in the house coal allocation in view of the need to export some of the better grades of house coal. Arrangements have made to reduce the proportion of this coal going to St. Neots and district and to substitute more suitable grades.
§ Mr. RentonIs the Minister aware that this lowering of standards was never tolerated under private enterprise and, bearing in mind that so many complaints about the quality of coal have been made since nationalisation, is it not about time that the quality was improved?
§ Mr. GaitskellThe hon. Member appears to have forgotten that under private enterprise there was a very large number of unemployed miners and that it was most difficult to sell the coal at that time; but, of course, continuous efforts are being made to improve quality.