§ 29. Mr. Niall Macphersonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that, taken over a period of time, short delivery of coal to merchants represents an increasingly serious loss; and what steps he is taking, in consultation with the Minister of Transport, to ensure that merchants shall receive on the average the quantity of coal allocated to them.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerThis is a matter of the National Coal Board's day-to-day administration; if the hon. Member will read paragraphs 292–294 of their Annual Report for 1948, he will find an account of what is being done.
§ Mr. MacphersonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that stereotyped replies are being sent out when letters are written complaining of regular shortages of something like half a hundredweight in the 19 ton and that the reply simply says that this is not regarded as excessive? Does the right hon. Gentleman share that view and, if not, what is he going to do about it?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI am not sure whether I am in order in adding to my original answer, but the Coal Board have had discussions with the coal distributors and the Railway Executive about what they can do and they are shortly to examine with the distributors the results of their discussions with the Railway Executive, with a view to improving matters.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsWhat has the Railway Executive to do with the matter when a coal merchant does not send the proper amount of coal?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIt is because a lot is lost in transit on the railways.
§ Sir H. WilliamsWhat has that to do with giving short weight?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIt is short weight on arrival. It has always been true, long before nationalisation—this is a very old question—that there have been difficulties about short weight deliveries.