§ 39. Mr. Granville Sharpasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what limitations there are on the complete freedom of choice of a coal consumer to choose his own coal merchant; and whether Fuel Overseers have been or will be instructed to issue licences, as from 1st May, to coal merchants who did not previously deliver coal in the area concerned, but who are now prepared to supply consumers who wish them so to do.
§ Mr. GaitskellThere are no restrictions on the freedom of consumers to change their coal merchants between the 7th–31st March, 1949, except that the merchant chosen must be one already licensed to trade in the district, and that he must be willing to accept the new customer. Outside that period transfers are within the discretion of local fuel overseers and there is a right of appeal to the regional coal officer either by the consumer or by the merchant.
With regard to the second part of the Question, local fuel overseers have authority to register new merchants in any district where there is consumer need for additional distributive facilities. For administrative reasons, however, no new merchants are being licensed during March and April while applications from consumers to change their merchants are being dealt with. Local fuel overseers have already been instructed to resume the normal procedure as from 1st May, 1949.
§ Mr. SharpCan the Minister explain the reason for this limitation in the freedom of choice of the consumer to change his coal merchant?
§ Mr. GaitskellI am not sure to what my hon. Friend is referring. If he means that they cannot change to a merchant who is not licensed, then I must tell him that some time ago arrangements were made with the distribution trade to license new merchants only where there is an essential need so long as the shortage of coal continues, which is only fair to the existing merchants.