§ 13. Mr. George Thomasasked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the people living at the squatters' camp, Ely Racecourse, Cardiff, are refused permission to register for coal.
§ The Minister of Fuel and Power (Mr. Gaitskell)I am informed that all the 31 families at present living on the Ely Racecourse are registered for coal supplies, and the Local Fuel Overseer is 535 unaware of registration being refused to any person living there. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of any complaint he has received I will have further inquiries made.
§ Mr. ThomasIs my right hon. Friend aware that the entire camp, assembled a week ago, told me that by being refused registration except with one supplier they are deprived of free choice of coal merchant, and does his reply mean that they are free, as is any other citizen, to change their coal merchant if they so desire?
§ Mr. GaitskellCertainly.
§ 23. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that deliveries of domestic coal rations to consumers in the Macclesfield district have been consistently late during the past few weeks; and what steps he is taking to improve the delivery.
§ Mr. GaitskellI am aware that there has recently been some delay in delivery of supplies to consumers in the Macclesfield district, mainly on the part of one merchant. I have asked my regional coal officer to review the delivery arrangements with a view to securing an improvement.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyWill the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects sufficient fuel to be available to meet the rations?
§ Mr. GaitskellWe will take steps to improve the position at once, but, as the hon. Member is probably aware, there is no strict rationing of coal. There is simply a maximum allowance.