§ 25. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyreasked the Minister of Fuel and Power since, in the first 23 weeks of this year, coal consumption has exceeded production to the order of 5,000,000 tons, what steps he is taking to limit sales.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerDuring the winter the consumption of coal is greater than in the summer; the excess of consumption over production is met by drawing on stocks. The amount withdrawn from stocks in the first 23 weeks of 1950 was greater than in 1949, but the re-building of stocks for next winter has, of course, begun, and it is so far doing well.